Destexhe's findings, which draw on firsthand testimonies, indicate that Tshisekedi's administration has provided the FDLR with arms, equipment, and funding, contributing to its expansion.
According to the former lawmaker, while the FDLR operates highly organised autonomous units that are described as more disciplined than the FARDC, it is also fully integrated into the Congolese military's chain of command.
Among the accounts shared with Destexhe was that of a young man, forcibly recruited by the FDLR at age 12, who served for six years. He disclosed that starting in 2022, he received a monthly salary of $120 through the FARDC, highlighting the extent of coordination between the two forces.
Similarly, an FARDC captain responsible for securing the Rubaya mine described seamless collaboration, with joint operations, helicopter resupply missions, and shared command structures involving the FDLR, the Wazalendo militia, and the FARDC.
Destexhe noted that, even more concerning, after 30 years of on-the-ground cooperation, many FDLR gunmen have been integrated into the FARDC, including in command positions, because they are often seen as "more capable officers.'
The former senator questioned the international community's response, noting that despite the FDLR's designation as a terrorist group, global actors have yet to fully address the consequences of its integration into the FARDC.
Destexhe warned that dismantling the FDLR is an immense challenge, especially since it sustains support networks in Europe through organisations that present themselves as human rights NGOs.
'Eradicating the FDLR's influence would require a complete restructuring of the FARDC,' he said, calling the task 'near impossible' without comprehensive reforms.
The FDLR has been accused of spreading genocidal ideology and targeting Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in eastern DRC, where hundreds of thousands have been displaced, with many seeking refuge in Rwanda.
The group has been collaborating with other militia groups and the Congolese forces to fight the M23 group, whose members have taken up arms to protest what they describe as poor governance, marginalisation, and decades of persecution.
Rwanda - RDC : Les FDLR sont complètement intégrés dans les FARDC - ENGLISH BELOW
Au cours de mon séjour au Kivu, j'ai recueilli plusieurs témoignages sur les FDLR. Selon mes sources, leur effectif aurait doublé depuis qu'ils sont armés, équipés et financés par Félix Tshisekedi,… pic.twitter.com/5ZeTwPbUGI
â€" Alain Destexhe (@Destexhe) June 9, 2025
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