15 Sep 2009

The Tanzanian military has vehemently denied reported claims that Rwandan rebel groups are fleeing to the central East African country.

Media reports had earlier accused the Tanzanian government of allowing rebel groups responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide to cross its borders.

"We have no cases of rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (DFLR) in Tanzania and we are yet to receive official reports that this group is fleeing" its strongholds in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzanian military spokesman said on Tuesday.

Colonel Jean-Paul Dietrich, the military spokesperson for the UN mission in DR Congo, has however confirmed the reports, saying DFLR rebels, hidden among displaced civilians, have been seen moving into Tanzania.

"There have been movements of civilians and people … along with some DFLR rebels into Tanzania … but there is no evidence to suggest that these rebels are evacuating their DR Congo bases," Dietrich stressed.

The presence in eastern DR Congo of FDLR rebels, accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, before fleeing across the border, has always been a major source of instability in the region.

That is why in January, the Congolese and Rwandan governments launched a joint offensive to fight the remnants of the Hutu rebels, mainly active in North Kivu.

As a result of the recent spark in fighting, over 35,000 people have been displaced in the region, mostly seeking relieve in the wild refuge of the African jungle to escape terror and hostilities.

presstv