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• Laurent Nkunda is a former General of the Democratic Republic of Congo Army. He split off in 2004 to lead a rebel faction comprised of the 81st and 83rd DRC brigades and was subsequently indicted on charges of war crimes.

  Nkunda was arrested by Rwandan forces in early 2009.Guardian: Profile: Laurent Nkunda BBC News: Nkunda's Spectacular Fall (January 23, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Also known as: Laurent Nkundabatware, Laurent Nkunda Batware
  2. Born: February 2, 1967
  3. Former psychology studentGuardian: Profile: Laurent Nkunda
  4. Loyal to the native Tutsi people
  5. Fought with the Rwandan Patriotic Front against the Rwandan Armed Forces during the mid-1990s Rwandan GenocideGuardian: Profile: Laurent Nkunda
  6. Helped overthrow former President Mobutu in the First Congo War of the late '90s
  7. Was a major in the Congolese Rally for Democracy
  8. Became a general of the DRC Army in 2004, but refused to report for dutyGuardian: Profile: Laurent Nkunda
  9. Rebelled and withdrew to Nord-Kivu provinceGuardian: Profile: Laurent Nkunda
  10. Indicted for war crimes in September, 2005
  11. Accused of recruiting child soldiersThe Wire: Rise in recruitment of child soldiers in DRC

• Accusations of War Crimes

  Nkunda has been accused of taking part in the killing of 160 people in Kisangani in 2002. He is also accused of murdering and raping citizens.Human Rights Watch: D.R. Congo: Arrest Laurent Nkunda For War Crimes

• Quote

  "I have nothing to do with Kisangani situation. I was under the command of the [former rebel movement] Rassemblement Congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) and the first people to be asked about such incidences are Azarias Ruberwa (leader of RCD-Goma and one of the DRC's four vice-presidents), Sylvie Buki [chief of staff of the land forces] and not me. I was under a command of a top officer and so I should not mention anything on this issue. Let my superiors answer that...It's not even me who conducted this war. I was in Kisangani under a commander, and I know we did not kill civilians. But certainly there were civilians who were killed in the crossfire."—discussing Kisangani killingsIRIN: DRC: Interview with Rebel General Laurent Nkunda (September 2, 2004)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Rwanda | Darfur | Joseph Kabila | Africa | DR Congo

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