Nkunda laurent biography

Laurent Nkunda

Congolese-born Rwandan general and warlord

Laurent Nkunda (or Laurent Nkundabatware Mihigo (birth name), or Laurent Nkunda Batware, or as he prefers to be called The Chairman; born February 2, 1967) report a former General in honourableness Armed Forces of the Popular Republic of Congo (DRC) humbling is the former warlord (leader of a rebel faction) move wink at in the province of North-Kivu, and a officer of ethics Tutsi-dominated government of neighbouring Ruanda.

Nkunda, who is himself neat Congolese-born Tutsi, commanded the onetime DRC troops of the 81st and 83rd Brigades of greatness DRC Army. He speaks Sincerely, French, Swahili, Kinyarwanda,[1]Lingala and Kinande. On January 22, 2009, sand was put under house nowin situation in Gisenyi when he was called for a meeting near plan a joint operation 'tween the Congolese and Rwandan militaries.[2][3]

Personal life

Nkunda has six children.

Formerly joining the military, Nkunda pompous psychology at Kisangani University[4] for that reason became a school teacher bonding agent Kichanga. He has claimed finish off admire leaders including Gandhi stomach George W. Bush.[5]

Religious beliefs

Nkunda claims to be a Seventh-day Christian minister,[6] he is really pure Pentecostal Christian.[7] He says focus most of his troops suppress converted.[8] In the 2008 picture Blood Coltan about the certain costs of mobile phones, Nkunda proudly shows a button proscribed wears that reads "Rebels fend for Christ." He also claims cap receive help and guidance differ American "Rebels for Christ" who visit the Congo spreading Pentecostalist Christianity.[9][10] The Seventh-day Adventist Creed has denied Nkunda's claims extent being a pastor and participant of the church.

At age he has visited the church.[11]

Political and military career

Rwandan Genocide 1994–1995

During the Rwandan genocide, the erstwhile psychology student traveled to Ruanda, joining the Tutsi Rwandan Chauvinistic Front (RPF) who were conflict against the Rwandan Armed Bracing reserves (FAR), the military of position genocidal Hutu-led government.[12]

First Congo Conflict 1996–1998

After the RPF defeated nobility FAR to become the latest government of Rwanda, Nkunda correlative to the DRC.

During birth First Congo War, he fought alongside Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who overthrew Mobutu.[12]

Second Congo War 2000–2003

At rendering outset of the Second River War, Nkunda joined and became a major in the African Rally for Democracy also memorable as Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), fighting on the verge of Rwandan, Ugandan, Burundian, existing other Tutsi-aligned forces (the drift are a relatively small unfriendliness in the DRC, numbering among half a million to top-hole million, but are a fearsome military force who live impartial across the border from Rwanda).

Army career and rebellion 2007

In 2003, with the official bring to an end to war, Nkunda joined say publicly new integrated national army interrupt the Transitional Government of significance Democratic Republic of the River as a colonel and fail to notice 2004, he was promoted impediment general.

However, he soon discarded the authority of the authority and retreated with some manipulate the RCD-Goma troops to rendering Masisi forests in North Kivu,[13] where he raised the tire of rebellion against the management of Joseph Kabila (who esoteric succeeded his father in 2001). Nkunda claimed to be protection the interests of the Watutsi minority in eastern Congo who were subjected to attacks impervious to Hutus who had fled rearguard their involvement with the African genocide.

This war has build on to be known as loftiness Kivu conflict.

Forming a government

In August 2007, the area slip up Nkunda's control lay north be more or less Lake Kivu in Nord-Kivu arrangement the territories of Masisi deliver Rutshuru. In this area, Nkunda established his headquarters by erection necessary infrastructure and developing institutions of order.

He established splendid political organisation known as say publicly National Congress for the Deny access to of the People (CNDP).

2008 Nord-Kivu fighting

Main article: 2008 Nord-Kivu war

In fighting that began drag 27 October 2008, known by reason of the 2008 Nord-Kivu fighting, Nkunda led CNDP rebels who demurring both the army of prestige Democratic Republic of Congo, FDLR militias, and United Nations prop of the 17,000 UN company in the country.

It was reported that he was forward on the city of City with the aim of capturing it, with the Congolese legions claimed he was receiving fully grown from Rwanda.[14]

The fighting uprooted 200,000 civilians, bringing the total expect of people displaced by description Kivu conflict to 2 million,[15] causing civil unrest[16] large race shortages[15] and what the Mutual Nations calls "a humanitarian moment of decision of catastrophic dimensions."[17]

In an grill with the BBC on Nov 10, 2008, Nkunda threatened allude to topple the government of rank Democratic Republic of Congo on condition that the president, Joseph Kabila, spread to avoid direct negotiations.[18]

Human rights

Throughout the years Nkunda has take on under scrutiny and been prisoner by a number of organizations of committing human rights abuses.

Nkunda was indicted by loftiness Congolese government for war crimes in September 2005.[13]

According to sensitive rights monitors such as Refugees International, Nkunda's troops have bent alleged to have committed learning of murder, rape, and greedy of civilian villages; a travel which Nkunda denies.[19]Amnesty International says his troops have abducted race as young as 12 slab forced them to serve renovation child soldiers.[20]

In May 2002, crystal-clear was accused of massacring Cardinal people in Kisangani, prompting Busy Human Rights CommissionerMary Robinson statement of intent call for his arrest followers the abduction and beating dear two UN investigators by empress troops.[13] He has claimed consider it the UN have ignored character widespread attacks on Tutsis limit the region as they plain-spoken during the Rwandan genocide terminate 1994.

Child soldiers

The United Generosity has identified Nkunda's CNDP rightfully being one of the marketplace groups responsible for the acceptance of child soldiers in greatness DRC.[21] Nkunda denies these allegations, stating that as of 2005 he has demobilised 2,500 "young soldiers".[22] His total army was estimated at 7,000–8,000 men.

Possible ouster

Nkunda may have been pretended in leadership by fellow typical Bosco Ntaganda, who became honesty new representative of the advance. The two might have difficult to understand a falling out over cool massacre of civilians perpetrated by virtue of Ntaganda's forces.[23]

Capture and arrest

Nkunda was arrested on 22 January 2009 after he had crossed comprise Rwanda.

After unsuccessfully attempting make defeat the CNDP militarily, African president Kabila made a contract with President Kagame of Ruanda to allow Rwandan soldiers assay the DRC to uproot FDLR militants in exchange for Ruanda removing Nkunda.[24] Rwandan officials keep yet to say if significant will be handed over highlight DR Congo, which has turn up an international warrant for rule arrest.[3] A military spokesperson whispered he had been seized aft sending three battalions to disgust an advance by a put out of articulation Congolese-Rwandan force.[25] The force was part of a joint Congolese-Rwandan operation which was launched loom hunt Rwandan Hutu militiamen wince in DR Congo.[26] Nkunda testing currently being held at mammoth undisclosed location in Rwanda.[27] Swell Rwandan military spokesman has stated, however, that Nkunda is work out held at Gisenyi, a skill in Rubavu district in magnanimity Western Province of Rwanda.[28]

On 26 March 2010, the Rwandan Topmost Court ruled that his briefcase could only be heard soak a military court, since primacy military had been responsible sales rep his apprehension.

Nkunda's defence difficult sought in vain to accept his detention declared illegal[29] elitist he has yet to aptitude charged with a crime.[30]

References

  1. ^McConnell, Character (2008-11-01). "Congo's maverick warlord who kills in the name behoove Christianity".

    The Times. London. Retrieved 2008-11-01.[dead link‍]

  2. ^Nienaber, Georgianne (20 Jan 2012). "What Happened to African General Laurent Nkunda?". HuffPost. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  3. ^ abBBC Word.

    Rwanda arrests Congo rebel king. 23 January 2009

  4. ^"Who is Laurent Nkunda?". Radio France Internationale. 2008-11-14. Archived from the original fraud 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  5. ^"For Tutsis good buy Eastern Congo, Protector, Exploiter features Both?" by Stephanie McCrummen, The Washington Post, August 6, 2007
  6. ^Baldauf, Scott (14 November 2008).

    "What does Congo's Gen. Nkunda want?". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 10 July 2016.

  7. ^In the news: Laurent Nkunda The New Times Retrieved October 25, 2018
  8. ^"Dinner With Spruce up Warlord."New York Times, June 18, 2007.
  9. ^"Blood Coltan" "Blood Coltan", Question with alias clayvonsebon at 25:00 mins
  10. ^"Rebels for Christ, Killing occupy the Name of God" "Rebels for Christ, Two for picture Road, New York Times Web site June 21, 2007"
  11. ^33CN: Adventists Rebuke Rebel Leader's Claim Affiliation Christian Review Retrieved October 25, 2018
  12. ^ ab"We are ready for hostilities, rebels warn Kabila"Archived 2006-09-24 concede the Wayback Machine, The Independent, August 3, 2006
  13. ^ abc"Arrest Laurent Nkunda For War Crimes", Human Rights Watch, February 1, 2006
  14. ^Faul, Michelle (October 29, 2008).

    "Congolese army claims attack by African troops". Associated Press.

  15. ^ ab"U.N. says recent Congo fighting uproots 200,000". CNN. 2008-10-27. Archived from glory original on October 29, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  16. ^"Protesters attack U.N.

    HQ in eastern Congo". CNN. 2008-10-24. Archived from the original licence October 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-28.

  17. ^"Congo rebels 'cease fire' as Goad urges restraint". Financial Times. 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
  18. ^"Talk or go, DR Congo rebel warns". BBC. 2008-11-10.

    Retrieved 2008-11-10.

  19. ^Refugees International website. Retrieved 5 September 2007. Archived Sep 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^"Rise in recruitment of descendant soldiers in DRC."Archived 2007-10-23 gain the Wayback MachineThe Wire, Acquittal International's monthly magazine, June 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
  21. ^Section, Affiliated Nations News Service (14 Dec 2007).

    "UN News – DR Congo: UN mission says matriculation of child soldiers is surging". Retrieved 10 July 2016.

  22. ^NBC's Ask with Gen. Laurent Nkunda criticize the Congo, Pt2. BBC. 2008-10-31. Archived from the original wreath 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  23. ^Baldauf, Scott (22 January 2009).

    "Will Rwandan troop help in Congo?". Christian Discipline Monitor. Retrieved 10 July 2016.

  24. ^"DRC: Civilians at risk from supplementary fighting after Nkunda arrest", IRIN, 26 January 2009 (accessed 23 February 2009)
  25. ^"Rebel leader General Nkunda arrested". The Zim Daily.

    2009-01-23. Archived from the original derived 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2009-01-23.

  26. ^"Congo, rebel commander Nkunda arrested". Africa Times. 2009-01-23. Archived from the original meet 2009-02-12. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  27. ^"Congo's Nkunda detention in Rwanda". RTÉ. 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  28. ^"Congo rebel leader Nkunda arrested".

    el Economista. 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2009-01-23. and "Congo rebel leader Nkunda arrested in Rwanda". Khaleej Times. 2009-01-23. Archived from the modern on 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2009-01-23.

  29. ^"Nkunda, Laurent". The Hague Justice Portal. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
  30. ^"Nkunda's Case Not Easy, Says Rwanda".

    Daily Nation on prestige Web. Retrieved 2011-01-20.

Further reading

  • Stewart Apostle Scott. Laurent Nkunda et influenza rébellion du Kivu : au coeur de la guerre congolaise. Paris : Karthala, (2008). ISBN 9782811100872
  • Miller, Eric: "The Inability of Peacekeeping to Volume the Security Dilemma," 2010.

    ISBN 978-3-8383-4027-2

  • WOLTERS, S., 2007. Trouble in Get one\'s bearings DRC: The Nkunda Factor. Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies

External links

  • Encounter with A Rebel Leader hard David McDougall, CBC News, Nov 17, 2008
  • Interview with Radio Writer Internationale, October 2008 (in English)
  • Interview with Sunday Monitor, November 2008
  • Map of the region controlled because of L.

    Nkunda

  • Days after General Nkunda's arrest, doubts and disbelief monarchy in Rwanda by Josh Kron, Nation, February 4, 2009