INSTANT VIEW-Rwandan troops hunt Hutu rebels in Congo
Jan 20 (Reuters) - Rwandan troops crossed into eastern Congo on Tuesday in a joint military operation by the Great Lakes neighbours to disarm Rwandan Hutu rebels seen as a root cause of more than a decade of conflict. [nLK379050]
Following are comments from analysts, diplomats and officials:
JASON STEARNS, INDEPENDENT CONGO ANALYST
"This marks a major turning point in Kinshasa's attitude towards the conflict in the east. It appears (President Joseph) Kabila's government has decided to turn on what has been an ally, the FDLR."
"This marks a serious change in Rwanda's policy as well. For the first time since 2002, Rwandan troops are on Congolese soil."
"They will now be working together against the FDLR, while the CNDP (Tutsi rebel group), which in the past has received support from Rwanda, will now join ranks with the Congolese army.
"This strategy hinges on the success of the military operations against the FDLR. These kinds of counter-insurgency operations are very difficult and always carry with them the risk of serious harm to the civilian population."
"The other risk is that these operations could be protracted and Kinshasa has already gone out on a limb inviting back in what has been traditionally perceived as its biggest enemy."
KINSHASA-BASED DIPLOMAT
"Certainly we weren't expecting them to ... walk across the border in broad daylight. I don't think anyone was expecting that."
"I can't see practically how it's going to work."
"Kabila now has the hardest sell of his presidency. How is he going to convince the people that it's okay to have Rwandan boots on Congolese soil? I think it's going to be very difficult."
LOUISE MUSHIKIWABO, RWANDA'S INFORMATION MINISTER
"All forces are under (Congolese army) command. This is a result of recent intense and sincere efforts -- diplomatic, military and other -- by various stakeholders, to bring peace and stability to the region."
"The government of Rwanda has played its part in a consistent and sincere manner. There is a new momentum and the government of Rwanda is pleased that the fundamental obstacle to stability for the last 15 years, i.e. the (Rwandan Hutu) FDLR (rebels), is finally being tackled."
REGIONAL DIPLOMAT
"It's a DRC/Rwanda operation. They are carrying on, whether anyone likes it or not. They have done it without consulting anyone else. As far as I can tell, they are ignoring MONUC (the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo)."
"There does seem to have been a sea change (in relations between the two countries). Whether that is just on the surface or not is not clear. It seems to be the result of some quite lengthy negotiations over the last few months but at no point have they involved the international community."
"It's only a confirmation of what everybody already knows -- that the DRC army has no control over its own territory."
CONGO ANALYST
"I've heard that the Rwandans have been coming in over the last couple of days. Two thousand (soldiers) are clearly not just observers.
"Look where we are, two years after elections, the Rwandan army back in Congo and the Ugandans are back in Congo ... and the Congolese get screwed again."
"I know the Rwandans have been closely watching what the international community has been allowing (Ugandan President Yoweri) Museveni to do (against the LRA in northeastern Congo).
"Kabila is so weak at the moment. This could spell electoral disaster for him. Allowing the Rwandans back into the Kivus will not please anyone." (Reporting by Joe Bavier in Kinshasa, Hereward Holland in Kigali and David Lewis in Dakar; Editing by David Lewis) (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com/)
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