DRC’s First Lady Visits Wounded Soldiers, Sparks Controversy Over FDLR Links

A recent visit by the DRC’s First Lady, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, to war-wounded soldiers has triggered a wave of controversy after images emerged linking a supposed injured soldier to the FDLR, a sanctioned rebel group notorious for human rights abuses.

During her visit to Camp Kokolo and Tshatshi Military Hospital, the First Lady expressed solidarity with wounded soldiers fighting against the M23 rebel group in North Kivu. However, sharp-eyed observers noticed a troubling detail—a tattoo on one of the injured men bore the insignia of “CRAP” (Commando de Recherche et d’Actions en Profondeur), a special unit of the FDLR.

The CRAP battalion, now renamed “Maccabe,” is a brutal arm of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). This sanctioned rebel group operates in eastern DRC and is infamous for its role in sustaining the region’s armed conflict, human rights violations, and insecurity. The unit is led by Protogène Ruvugayimikore, who is listed under United Nations sanctions for planning and committing acts of violence, including overseeing recruitment and training efforts.

This revelation has sparked serious questions about the DRC military’s potential ties to the FDLR. Protogène Ruvugayimikore, who commands the CRAP battalion, works directly with high-profile FDLR figures such as Gaston Iyamuremye and Pacifique Ntawunguka. Under his leadership, the FDLR has been implicated in widespread atrocities across the region.

While the DRC government often portrays itself as fighting against rebel groups like the M23, critics point to an alarming history of collaboration between Congolese forces and the FDLR. The visible tattoo of a sanctioned militia’s emblem on a purported government soldier only deepens suspicions of such ties.

The controversy adds another layer to the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the DRC and Rwanda. The FDLR, which includes perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, continues to operate in the DRC under tacit protection, further fueling instability in the region. Rwanda has repeatedly raised concerns over the DRC’s failure to address the FDLR threat, accusing Congolese officials of harboring and collaborating with the militia.

This incident comes as the DRC faces growing scrutiny over its handling of the eastern conflict. International observers are questioning the credibility of its military operations, particularly as evidence mounts of its reliance on groups like the FDLR to prop up its fight against the M23.

The First Lady’s visit, intended as a gesture of support for injured troops, has now inadvertently exposed a troubling undercurrent in the DRC’s conflict narrative. Whether this will prompt further investigations or spark international outrage remains to be seen. For now, the tattooed insignia of a sanctioned rebel group has cast an unwanted spotlight on the DRC’s murky alliances in its fight for stability.