The FDLR, an armed group whose leadership includes individuals linked to the former Rwandan government forces, has continued to pose a security challenge to Rwanda. Its history is linked to the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and subsequent armed attacks against Rwanda.
Over the years, attacks attributed to the group and its predecessors have claimed lives and disrupted communities. This raises questions about the objectives of an armed group that claims political ambitions while resorting to violence against the country it seeks to govern. Areas including Rubavu and Musanze, particularly Kinigi, have experienced attacks linked to armed groups operating in the region. For decades, these groups have attempted to destabilise Rwanda, although their efforts have repeatedly faced resistance from Rwandan security forces.
The groups also sought to disrupt major events in Rwanda, including visits by prominent international figures. Col. (Rtd) Augustin Nsengimana, a former member of the ex-FAR and a senior official in the FDLR, recalled one such episode during an interview. Nsengimana fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), formerly known as Zaire, after the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. He later returned to Rwanda as an Umucengezi, with the stated aim of destabilising the country.
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The ‘Bonjour Clinton’ operation
In March 1998, US President Bill Clinton visited Rwanda to express support for the country, acknowledge the devastating consequences of the Genocide against the Tutsi and observe efforts to rebuild the nation.
According to Nsengimana, the Abacengezi sought to use Clinton’s visit to draw international attention to their activities and demonstrate that they remained active. The operation was known as “Bonjour Clinton” and was intended to attract support from the United States and other countries. Nsengimana, who commanded one of the Abacengezi battalions, said the group wanted to demonstrate its military strength to the international community.
He said: “There was an operation called ‘Bonjour Clinton.’ It was carried out on the day Clinton visited Rwanda. The purpose of the operation was to show him that they had strength. I am referring to ALiR, which wanted to demonstrate that it was powerful, that we were powerful. The operation was carried out in Kanama and also in Nyamyumba, in Rubavu District, during August. These were separate operations.”
He continued: “I personally took part in the operation in Kanama, while others went to Nyamyumba. At that time, they captured two white Spanish nuns. They were later released and travelled home through Goma. Before leaving, they were given a message to deliver when they arrived home: that ALiR was present and active, and that its members were very humane, especially because they had released them.”
Nsengimana explained that the operation was intended to portray the group as powerful and the Rwandan government as incapable of effectively governing the country. The group also hoped to attract assistance from the United States and other countries.
He said the operation was designed to communicate to the international community, particularly the Americans, that the former Rwandan government forces (ex-FAR) remained active and were prepared to return to power.
He stated: “The idea was that, if necessary, they could later seek assistance by demonstrating that they were operating inside the country. They also wanted to show that the existing government was incapable, and that there was another group of people who had fled the country, returned, and were ready to take control of Rwanda.”
The group’s military strategy and defeat
During the “Bonjour Clinton” operation, the Abacengezi reportedly carried out military activities in different parts of the country to attract international attention and provoke a response. The timing was intended to maximise the visibility of their actions around Clinton’s visit.
Their plans also included blocking roads that RPF-Inkotanyi forces might use to reinforce troops during fighting. However, Nsengimana said the operations did not achieve their intended objectives because the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) was militarily stronger. Some members of the armed group were killed, while others were forced out of areas they had occupied.
Following these setbacks, some members returned to Zaire, where they continued their activities and reorganised. The group later became associated with the formation of the FDLR, which has continued to pose a security challenge to Rwanda.
Nsengimana’s role in the FDLR
Nsengimana later assumed several senior responsibilities within the armed group. He served as a battalion commander for 12 years in ALiR and the FDLR and also served as Deputy Commander in the FDLR’s Réserve de Brigade.
He returned to Rwanda in 2015 after serving as an adviser on security and military affairs within the FDLR. His account offers a perspective on how the armed group attempted to use a high-profile international visit to publicise its activities and pursue its political and military objectives.
