Colonel Michel Rukunda, who was second in command of the DRC Armed Forces in the Walikale sector in North Kivu province, reportedly defected to join the rebel group “Ngumino”, which operates mainly in Fizi and Minembwe in the province of South Kivu .
The Military sources say he will now be considered an “enemy of the DRC” and will be tracked down by the military like any other rebel “if he does not agree to surrender”.
According to our sources, Colonel Michel Rukunda left the loyalist army to join the militia and take the lead of this armed group known as “Ngumino”, after the death of the leader of the negative group, Ngumino Semahungure, during clashes between rebels last September.
General Léon Richard Kasonga, spokesperson for the FARDC, says he is not aware of this information.
On the other hand, several observers and civil society actors believe that with the defection of this FARDC officer, the thesis that the Congolese army is infiltrated only confirms itself during a period when the army is in full operation “far-reaching against rebel groups”.
Joram Jojo
RELATED PUBLICATIONS:
Militiamen kidnap Congolese police commander
DR Congo militias surrender to Congolese Army
Operations against armed groups in DR Congo Continues
Attacks by the so called Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have Subsided
DR Congo Patriotic Resistance Force (FRPI) Peace agreement
AFTER THEIR SURRENDER, NYATURA REBELS RETURN TO THE BUSH
THE UNION DES PATRIOTES POUR LA DÉFENSE DU CONGO (UPDC), MILITIAS SURRENDER
FARDC Captures the Headquarters of Mai Mai militias
Offensives Against fighters of ADF, Allied Democratic Forces
Clashes between FARDC and Rwandan FDLR rebels
Time for FARDC to Review, Strategies Against Allied Democratic Forces
DRC Convicted Warlord, Thomas Lubanga Warns Ituri Militias
INCURSION OF ARMED MEN IN JUPACIVI, ITURI PROVINCE
THE FIGHTING WITH UGANDAN AND RWANDAN TERRORISTS CONTINUES
THE M23 TERRORIST ARE RUNNING EXTORTION RACKETS
M23 TERRORISTS CARRY OUT NEW ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY M23 TERRORISTS
WHEN COLUMNS OF CODECO MILITIA MATCHED INTO BUNIA
TERROR ATTACKS BY ALLIED DEMOCRATIC FORCES (ADF) MILITIAS
DRC ARMED FORCES CLASH WITH REBELS OF THE ALLIED DEMOCRATIC FORCES (ADF)
CLASHES BETWEEN FARDC AND RAIYA MUTOMBOKI MILITIA, LEAVE MANY DEAD
THE SITUATION IN BUNIA AND THE PROVINCE OF ITURI IS COMPLEX
PANIC IN GOMA CITY AS NYIRAGONGO VOLCANO ERUPTS
TIGRAY DEFENCE FORCES(TDF) FREEDOM FIGHTERS