Profile: General Laurent Nkunda By Robert Walker BBC, Bukavu
Laurent Nkunda studied psychology at university The rebel commander who took over the town of Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo sees himself as a guardian of the peace. The general says he went to Bukavu to protect civilians, in particular the Banyamulenge ethnic group, who he claims were being attacked. The Banyamulenge are Congolese Tutsis most of whom arrived in the country from Rwanda more than a century ago. General Nkunda is himself a Tutsi, born in Congo's North Kivu province, close to Rwanda. It is true that here have been some attacks on Banyamulenge, but not to the extent the general claims. Most people in Bukavu say these started after General Nkunda and his ally Colonel Jules Mutebusi started fighting with the Congolese army at the end of May. According to many people on the streets of Bukavu, it was all a pretext - his real objective was not the protection of the Banyamulenge - it was power. Career soldier Laurent Nkunda studied psychology at university, even today the gaunt 37-year-old looks studious with glasses perched on the end of his nose. But for the past 11 years he has been a soldier. He fought with the Rwandan Patriotic Front, the rebel movement formed by Rwandan Tutsi exiles, which took control of Rwanda in 1994, ending the genocide. After that Laurent Nkunda returned home to join Rwanda's adventures in DR Congo. He was a commander in the Rwandan-backed Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) - the main rebel group which controlled most of eastern Congo during the five-year civil war. He was accused of committing atrocities in 2002 as a commander in the diamond-rich town of Kisangani. Following orders After the RCD joined the transitional government last year it looked like General Nkunda would have a chance to spend more time with his wife and four children. However, last month the general took up his arms again, putting the peace process in a precarious position. He is one of the former RCD commanders who have refused to report to Kinshasa under the new integrated army. Some accuse him of still following orders from Kigali, however he says that although the Rwandans are his allies, they did not tell him to capture Bukavu. Now that the general has dropped his key demands and admitted that the extent of attacks against the Banyamulenge were exaggerated, he says he is going back north to the town of Goma. Perhaps he will now concentrate on managing his three farms and 800 cattle. But many suspect General Nkunda may not have fought his last battle. DR Congo's civilians may have more to fear. -------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
