This photo was taken from a military helicopter of an FDLR base in the Pinga region mountains. The photo was obtained by a Congolese journalist in Goma
Teenage Damascène Nsengiyumva was abducted from the fields as he was digging by Rwandan FDLR rebels from a remote part of east DR Congo. He was taken on heavy training for several weeks, during which time he met the group’s elusive leader Sylvestre Mudacumura. After battles with the M23 rebels, Nsengiyumva escaped. He told his ordeal.
In a lengthy minute interview, Jean Damascène Nsengiyumva, an ex-combatant in the ranks of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), offers new, eye-witness accounts as to how the FDLR collaborated with the DR Congo armed Forces (FARDC) in shelling parts of Western Rwanda, and then M23-held positions over the last couple of months.
Nsengiyumva narrates that he used to live in Kanyabayonga – a few kilometers north of Goma, in Eastern DRC, where he had settled from Walikale territory. Up until recently, Nsengiyumva was operating in Rusayu – where he spent eight months. He was then deployed to battlefield at Pinga located about 100km North West of Goma. The FDLR have big bases in the mountains in this Pinga region.
The war-hardened Nsengiyumva gives rare insights into life within the FDLR, a militia group whose members are wanted for genocide.
The “poor farmer” – as he described himself, Nsengiyumva says he was kidnapped by FDLR elements on October 9th, 2012, as he cultivated his plot of land in Kibati, few kilometers north of Goma.
From there, he was taken to a place called “Kumugogo”, near Rusayu. His FDLR captors gave him and the others he found there only two options: choose being killed or joining the FDLR rebellion. He chose the latter.
“FDLR-FARDC coalition”
Nsengiyumva gives vivid examples of clashes with M23 rebels and Mai-Mai Cheka. At a place called Tongo, his 160-strong FDLR Company fought side by side with the FARDC in shelling the M23 positions. Wherever the “coalition troops” – as he calls them, arrived, they swept all houses and farmland – usually looking for food. Nsengiyumva says they were involved in looting a number of businesses in the areas occupied. He names some FDLR commanders as Major Mbonimpa, Kayitana and Ruhinda.
In September, commanded by Captain Assouman, Nsengiyumva says FDLR rebels helped FARDC dislodge M23 rebels from Kibati, by then one of their few remaining strongholds. They had arms and air-power provided by the UN’s Intervention Brigade. Here, Nsengiyumva says, they needed air reinforcements as M23 elements were well embedded in their trenches in Kibati and on Mujoga hilltop.
At a Kirorerwa battlefield, Nsengiyumva narrates that FDLR groups fought alongside FARDC soldiers from 802nd and 110th units all based in the Walikale regions. Fifteen (15) FDLR combatants died in that battle at Kirorerwa. The death toll, he said, was even higher in the FARDC ranks.
“Shelling into Rwanda”
He confirmed that the shelling of parts of Rwanda – when bombs landed in Rubavu district, Western Rwanda a couple of months ago – was carried out from FARDC-held positions and by FARDC elements themselves. A 107 millimeter caliber rocket launcher based at a place called “Gisheke”, and manned by a Private under orders from an FARDC Major, was the one used to shell onto Rwandan soil.
At the Kanyarucinga battle, FDLR’s Major Kayiranga and Private Kirenge fired 107 millimeter bombs onto Rwandan soil and Goma in September using an FARDC-owned mortar. The two FDLR combatants were acting under the orders of FDLR’s Colonel Shamambo.
Led by Major Parikeri and Warrant Officer Bravo, Nsengiyumva said having received a refresher at Peti (where they had purportedly made a tactical withdrawal), along with 65 fellow FDLR combatants, after 25 others had been killed in a previous fight at Pinga.
He said having seen FDLR’s top commander, Sylvestre Mudacumura, spending about two days in Pinga to check on his combatants. “A thin, old man”, is how Nsengiyumva describes him, and “he drinks a lot”. Nsengiyumva also had encounters with FDLR’s top commanders like Colonel Calme and Colonel Shamambo, who live close to Mudacumura. And he said FARDC were supplying them in arms and ammunitions.
Soon after deployment at Pinga, he went for a short refresher at Muyimori, from where he defected and made his way to Kanyabayonga − trekking three days to arrive in the town of Goma at MONUSCO headquarters, from where he was able to come back to Rwanda, his homeland.
He was among 28 combatants held at the MONUSCO base in Goma against their will. It was after information leaked that MONUSCO repatriated them to Rwanda.