Laurent Nkunda

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)

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

"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)