This archive report was first published on 19 September 2019.
On September 19, 2019, the Congolese army announced the death of Sylvestre Mudacumura, commander of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), in an operation in North Kivu province.
According to Colonel Sylvain Ekenge, a deputy military spokesman, five people were killed in the operation, including Mudacumura and his 'secretary general', while four others were captured and four weapons were recovered.
"The final assessment: five killed, including Mudacumura and his secretary general, four captured and four weapons recovered," Colonel Ekenge told AFP.
Mudacumura was wanted by the International Criminal Court for charges including rape, torture, and pillage. He was killed about 60 kilometres from the capital of North Kivu province, Goma.
Neighbouring Rwanda welcomed the news, saying it proved DRC President Felix Tshisekedi's commitment to fighting 'negative forces'.
"The death of Sylvestre Mudacumura is good news for peace and security in the region," Rwandan state minister for regional affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe told AFP.
The FDLR was created by Rwandan Hutu refugees in eastern DRC after the genocide against the Tutsis by majority Hutus in Rwanda in 1994.
