Press Releases
The Embassy of the United States Condemns the Attack Against Civilians in Rutshuru
June 5, 2008
The Embassy of the United States of America in Kinshasa condemns the June 4 attack against innocent civilians in Rutshuru that was carried out by illegal Rwandan forces known generically as the FDLR ("Forces Démocratiques de Liberation du Rwanda" in French) operating inside the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This attack is especially heinous because it was directed against innocent civilians, including a number of internally displaced persons, or IDP's. The United States will do everything possible to see that those who committed this act will be held responsible and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
We note further that this attack occurred at a time when other elements of the FDLR are cooperating with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, pursuant to the Nairobi Communiqué of November 9, 2007 and the roadmap for disarming that was agreed on May 26 in Kisangani. Clearly, extremist elements of the FDLR have used violence to impede progress towards a lasting peace. This is unacceptable.
We again call on all FDLR groups to take advantage of the opportunity available to them through the Nairobi Communiqué and the Kisangani Conference to immediately lay down their arms and return to Rwanda or face serious consequences.