afrol News, 4 January - The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched a sensitisation campaign that aimed at disarming rebels and militias in the North-East region of the country.

Congo had officially ended a civil war some four years back, but its North Eastern region that share border with Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda is yet to enjoy peace. The region became home to hundreds of Rwandan rebel groups waiting to be tried on genocide crimes.

In a statement, Congolese Defence Minister, Chikez Diemu has appealed to all groups - local and foreign - to give up their arms. After their disarmament, the groups would be integrated in their respective and countries. Rwandan are among the militias.

Diemu said Congolese militia groups are given the free will to choose between returning to civil life and integration within the country's army.

The disarmament package came on the heels of an agreement signed by Kinshasa and Kigali in the Kenyan capital Nairobi last November.

A dissident Tutsi general Laurent Nkunda has been engaging thousands of Congolese soldiers backed by the UN on several months of heavy battle in North Kivu. The heavy fight has not only claimed several lives but it has also displaced thousands of citizens in the area.

General Nkunda rejected the Congolese government's call to disarm, insisting that he would do so provided the Kabila regime disarm its Hutu proxy militiamen. He accused the Hutu militia of persecuting his Congolese Tutsi community.

Rwandan authorities said they would not support any armed groups in Congo.

Congo has the largest UN peacekeeping force in the world, yet the country's long conflict still remains. Civilians have become victims of attacks, sexual violence and massacres.

Since 2004 the Congolese government has done all it could to disarm all its rival combatants to no avail.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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