The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo is in possession a senior Mai Mai rebel leader reported to have been receiving funding from the government of Rwanda to cause havoc in parts of Eastern part of the country.
The militia leader Papy Etienne Balongela alias Pitchen Ebola, who was apprehended last week, was officially handed over on August 27th to government forces, FARDC according to said Lulenge sector Chief Samuel Kabindula Mulumba.
The army spokesman in Sector Sokola 2 in South Kivu, Captain Dieudonné Kasereka has also confirmed the development.
The notorious rebel leader is accused of terrorizing areas of Ndombe and Kilembwe axis at the southernmost point of Fizi territory (in South Kivu), on the border with the neighboring province of Maniema.
He had been apprehended at night with seven other rebels in the area by village youth.
He is also among the attackers who committed atrocities on civilians between the sectors of Lulenge and Ngandja.
He is accused of carrying out looting, rape, killings, ambushes, kidnappings against passengers and attacks on FARDC troops, mainly on Lubondja, Forest 17, Lulimba, Mayi Ndombe and Kilembwe.
Rwanda government has often been named among the funders of Mai Mai Yakutumba rebels and the Burundian Red Tabara rebels to destabilize Eastern DR Congo most especially Minembwe.
Kigali is also accused of offering sanctuary to the Burundian rebels planning to fight President Pierre Nkurunziza including offering logistical support and military training.
It is reported that a group of Burundian rebels recently finished their military training at Rwanda’s Gako military barracks and yet to be released back to the bushes to fight Bujumbura regime.
Locals in Eastern Congo say Rwanda has been increasing military presence in the area with the aim of using the region as launch pad for war against its southern and northern neighbors.
Opposition in Congo also critical of Rwandan military presence in the area say is a move by Kigali to annex Minembwe area which is alleged to be hosting anti Rwanda communities.
https://command1post.com/index.php/2019/08/29/rwandan-sponsored-mai-mai-militia-leader-destabilizing-fizi-territory-nabbed/
