The rebel movements, which have surrendered about a 1000 of its fighters and hundreds of ammunition to the Congolese military, told President Felix Tshisekedi to address their concerns otherwise they will have no choice but to return to the bush.
The two rebel group, AFRC and UPDC, use to operate in the territory of Masisi and Rutshuru, in the North Kivu Province. They had heeded the call by Tshisekedi for all rebel movements to lay down their weapons since a new government was now in charge.
However six months later after accepting the call, the rebels now find themselves in a state of despair and without any form of assistance from government. They claimed that the demobilisation process has failed, which lives an appetite to take up arms.
The rebels' grievances is nothing unusual as corruption and financial mismanagement within the Congolese defense force remains rampant. Often top Generals are accused of misappropriating funds disbursed by the central government to implement military programmes, such as that of demobilisation, and pay soldiers' salaries. According to experts, this is one of the main reasons the Congolese government has failed to end the violence in the eastern parts of the country.
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