FDLR Combatants at one of their Bases in Congo. The rebel group is marred by internal wrangles
The UN stabilization mission in Congo Monusco is holding a prominent FDLR general who surrendered on Monday – The rebel general says, he deserted because of unending lies and empty promises.
“It is true. The man surrendered. We are currently conducting a screening exercise before repatriating him on Thursday,” a Monusco official in charge of repatriation told KT Press.
“The screening is taking long and repatriation will only take place after screening is complete. More details about him will only be shared after this screening.”
Brigadier General Cômes Semugeshi, was also known by his bush name – Ali Habib Francis, Abdalah Hekin, Muhirwa François.
He was in charge of military training at Conseil National pour le Renouveau et la Democratie (CNRD – Ubwiyunge), a group that rebelled against the mother terrorists group, the Front Democratique pour la Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) operating in DR Congo.
Brig. Gen. Semugeshi was Deputy Commander at CNRD – Ubwiyunge, the group that was formed a couple of years ago by Colonel Wilson Irategeka, former Secretary General with FDLR – FOCA, who has since promoted himself to the rank of Lieutenant General.
CNRD – Ubwiyunge broke away from FDLR claiming they had a different ambition – fighting for a ‘genuine cause’. To negotiate power sharing with Government of Rwanda, and allow refugees repatriation.
According to Semugeshi, he deserted the group after realizing that Power sharing negotiations between Rwanda and CNRD would never take place.
Upon arriving at Monusco base in Masisi, Northern Kivu Province, Semugeshi said CNRD – Ubwiyunge command had issued an arrest warrant against him for opposing senior commanders calling them “liars” always giving “empty promises”.
The arrest warrant clearly indicated that “Whoever sees Brig. Gen Semugeshi should arrest him to face trial over treason.” He knew that by any chance if he got arrested he would be beaten to death.
Our source at the Monusco base did not indicate how many combatants accompanied Brig. Gen Semugeshi but was in company of Lieutenant Hakim Abdul.
In Rwanda, Semugeshi ancestral home is in Eastern Province (in former Kibungo Prefecture) where his family currently lives.
In 1994, Semugeshi was a senior officer in the Forces Armées Rwandaises (FAR) – Gendarme at a base in Rwamagana and was a student at a senior military officers school, Ecole Supérieure Militaire (ESM), 32nd intake.
