A former official responsible for financial affairs within the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) has explained how the armed group allegedly obtained financial and logistical support to sustain its operations in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking about the group’s financial networks, the former official said the FDLR generated money through the exploitation and sale of minerals from areas under its control.
He explained that minerals were transported from mining areas and sold through different channels and markets, generating funds that were then used to purchase weapons and other military equipment.
According to his account, some of the minerals were transported using railway infrastructure, which he said facilitated their movement to different destinations where they could be sold.
The former FDLR finance official also spoke about what he described as support provided to the group by the government of DRC President Félix Tshisekedi.
He said this support included assistance that enabled the group to continue accessing resources and maintaining its operations.
He further explained that the money obtained through the mineral trade was used to finance the group’s activities, including the acquisition of weapons and other equipment as it prepared for military operations against Rwanda.
During his account, he also identified specific mineral producing areas that he said were part of the group’s revenue generating network.
The former official’s account provides an insight into the financial mechanisms he says enabled the FDLR to sustain its activities in eastern DRC, particularly through the exploitation and trade of mineral resources.
The USA New Times interviewed the former FDLR official as part of its coverage of the former combatants and the wider security situation in eastern DRC.
For those who want to hear the former official explain his account directly, the full video is available on The USA New Times’ X account.
