By Spy Uganda
Brigadier-General Ezechiel Gakwerere, a top intelligence officer of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and a fugitive wanted for genocide crimes, is now in Rwandan custody. His handover by the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) at the Grande Barrière border post in Rubavu district signals a major victory in dismantling the notorious militia.
Captured alongside 13 other FDLR fighters in military operations in eastern DR Congo, Gakwerere is accused of orchestrating massacres of Tutsi civilians during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. His past ties with convicted genocide mastermind Jean Baptiste Gatete wa Murambi and his involvement in insurgencies have long made him one of Rwanda’s most wanted fugitives.
The FDLR, which has used DR Congo as a safe haven for decades, is responsible for repeated destabilization efforts against Rwanda. Kigali has consistently accused the Congolese government of incorporating FDLR fighters into its national army, the FARDC, as part of a broader scheme to threaten Rwandan security.
The arrest of Gakwerere is a significant blow to the FDLR’s intelligence network. The Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) confirmed that the captured FDLR elements had been actively coordinating with the FARDC, Wazalendo militia, and SAMIDRC, further exposing the group’s deep entrenchment in regional conflicts.
Gakwerere, alias Sibomana, ranked third in the FDLR hierarchy, only behind Maj Gen Gaston Iyamuremye (Victor Byiringiro) and Maj Gen Pacifique Ntawunguka (Omega). The RDF has not yet disclosed the exact legal process he will face, but given his status under United Nations sanctions and his extensive role in genocide crimes, justice is expected to take its course.
The capture of FDLR leaders has intensified in recent years, with former political head Ignace Murwanashyaka dying in German custody in 2019 and military commander Sylvestre Mudacumura being killed the same year by Congolese forces. However, the group remains elusive, with factions scattering across eastern DR Congo.
Full List of Captured FDLR Fighters
Brig Gen Ezechiel Gakwerere (Alias Sibomana)
Maj Gilbert Ndayambaje
SM August Nsabimana
Sgt JMV Mupenzi (Escort to Brig Gen Gakwerere)
Cpl Laurent Sibomana
Cpl Patrick Ishimwe
Cpl Concorde Ibyimanikora
Cpl Sadam Ukwishaka
Cpl Eric Hategekimana
Pte Pascal Ndayambaje
Pte Daniel Desire Rukundo
Pte Niyonzima Ntakirutimana
Pte Fabien Ndayambaje
Pte Gilbert Uwudihaye
For Rwanda, Gakwerere’s arrest is a crucial step in ensuring that those responsible for the 1994 genocide are held accountable. It also marks progress in dismantling the remnants of FDLR, a group that has long thrived in the shadows of regional conflicts.
As Rwanda awaits the legal proceedings against Gakwerere and his captured accomplices, one thing is clear—the long arm of justice is finally catching up with those who once believed they could evade it forever.
