Laurent Nkunda, the leader of the Tutsi rebel resistance movement in Eastern Congo, was arrested in Rwanda on Thursday at 10:30 pm while fleeing in Rwandan territory after putting up brief resistance, according to a statement released by the army officials from Rwanda and Congo (DR).

This arrest is a result of a major operation carried out by Congolese and Rwanda troops to put an end to the violence led by rebel groups which has controlled the Eastern Congo since 2004.

A conflict in which more than 250,000 people have been forced to flee and thousands other displaced.

As quoted by the Council on Foreign Relations, Times of London puts it as “[..] a remarkable policy U-turn” from Rwanda’s cooperation in apprehending Nkunda given the fact that Rwanda officials have been accused – and confirmed by the United Nations last year, of backing Nkunda’s rebel group – the Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple (CNDP) against the Congolese government.

Prior to his arrest Nkunda has kept a low profile. One of the main reason of his arrest which led to his arrest, as highlighted by Guardian, is mainly due to Bosco Ntaganda, one of his top commander – wanted for war crimes by the ICC, “formed a splinter movement last month” while the peace talks between the rebel group and the Congolese government were taking place. Guardian adds that:

Nkunda’s position became even more precarious when Ntaganda announced his forces would work together with Congo’s army and eventually integrate with it. Ntaganda may have turned on his former boss because he was afraid months of growing distrust might have prompted Nkunda to turn him over to the international criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, where Nkunda is wanted for the alleged forced conscription of child soldiers.

Although, Nkunda’s arrest is a blow to the rebellion, more need to be done in regards to the illegal exploitation of natural resources – the main cause of this conflict in this region.

Related posts:

1. Trial of DR Congos’ Rebel Leader Nkunda Begins Today
2. DRC Rebel Chief Arrested in Rwanda
3. Great Lakes Leaders Hail Nkunda Arrest, Say Kony Next Target
4. DRC: Peace Talks Collapse
5. Is Congo Moving in the Right Direction? President Kabila Thinks so
6. Congo-Kinshasa: We Can Overcome – African Solutions to African Problems
7. Increase Peacekeepers in Eastern Congo