The notorious Rwandan militia, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) operating in DRC has been ordered to surrender and handover weapons to the Congolese military.
Taarifa investigative Desk has established that the deputy commander of the FARDC, Jacques Ychaligonza, has launched an operation aimed at tracking down the FDLR present in the DRC.
Ychaligonza flew to Kisangani on Sunday and upon his arrival at Bangboka Airport, he headed to General Bauma Camp to preside over an inaugural parade.
The FDLR fighters have been urged to surrender to the loyalist forces. “Willingly or by force, they must hand over their weapons to us,” Jacques Ychaligonza told reporters.
The FDLR militia is primarily composed of perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Designated as a terrorist organization by Washington, the militia was founded in 2000, the group seeks to overthrow the Rwandan government and has been a significant driver of instability in the Great Lakes region for over two decades.
The Kinshasa regime has consistently provided cover and support to the FDLR militia group.
FDLR has also been operating alongside the Congolese army (FARDC) against the AFC/M23 rebel group, a major point of tension between Rwanda and the DRC.
Kinshasa has reapetedly accused Rwanda of supporting the AFC/M23 rebels of which Kigali authorities have rejected.
On December 4, 2025, Rwanda and the DRC signed the mediated Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity.
The accords include; Rwandan troop withdrawal, dismantling the FDLR militia, regional economic integration (especially regarding critical minerals), and establishing a joint security mechanism.
However, the DRC has consistently violated the treaty and maintains it’s alliance with the FDLR in operations against the AFC/M23.
The AFC/M23 accuse Kinshasa authorities of mistreatment of ethnic Tutsi Congolese popularly referred to as Banyamulenge.
The FDLR militia guided by it’s genocide ideology aimed at extermination of Tutsi people with support from Kinshasa has extended it’s mission against Banyamulenge.
Jacques Ychaligonza move to track and disarm the FDLR leaves Kigali watching closely on how he will implement his plan.
As of March 2026, Kigali and Kinshasa authorities returned to Washington and both agreed to “concrete steps” to ease tensions and uphold the agreement.
