FDLR, ADF-Nalu, M23 problem is still too strong despite recent progress

{The UN envoy in DRC, Martin Kobler, has said that military pressure on FDLR rebels must be applied so their fighters have no choice but to come out of the bush and surrender.}

Kobler was yesterday briefing the Security Council about the recent development in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Earlier this month, Rwanda expressed its concern over the fact that UN peacekeepers MONUSCO (UN Stabilization Mission in Congo) showed no sign of commitment in the fight against the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) operating freely on Congolese territory.

“We want to see the FDLR issue finally resolved. Unfortunately no sign is shown by MONUSCO to fight against the rebels” said Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and spokesperson of the Government Louise Mushikiwabo.

Speaking to the Security Council, Martin Kobler cautioned that the Rwandan Hutu group FDLR, and the Islamist Ugandan group, Allied Democratic Forces – or ADF — also posed a serious threat to Congolese civilians

Apart from FDLR, Kobler warned Monday that despite progress, the presence of armed groups in the country’s east is still too strong.

U.N. envoy Martin Kobler said the momentum must be kept up against M23 and other rebel groups in eastern Congo.

In a briefing to the U.N. Security Council, Kobler said the international community should not tolerate any military reemergence of the M23.