Respected Catholic Priest Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo has advised government to seize their support of local armed groups to join forces with the Congolese army (FARDC) in fighting the M23 Rebel Group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Congolese government have recently requipped local armed groups such as the Wazalendo and Forces For the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) with additional weapons as they look to compliment the FARDC in the fight against the M23.
However, Cardinal Ambongo reminds the Fèlix Tshisekedi regime of the histories of rebellion and several other crimes against the community that these local armed groups have and continue to continue to pose as potential threat to the nation.
Cardinal Ambongo stressed that the government could instead have strengthened the FARDC that has been lacking equipment and other necessities to be able to fight and defend the country.
“Instead of reinforcing the regular army with selected and well-trained soldiers, the government took the decision, which we consider dangerous, to arm these groups, which end up becoming a danger to the population by harming citizens, committing looting, theft and murder, and engaging in the illegal trade of minerals extracted in artisanal mines in the region” Cardinal Ambongo says.
Cardinal Ambongo also reminded the Congolese government that the said local armed groups which it supports have allegiances with several other political leaders and could easily turn against the country.
The fighting in eastern regions of the DRC have persisted with the M23 rebel fighters so far managing to take over several territories in North Kivu Province.
