News: 20 DRC armed soldiers seized in Tanzania
(The Citizen - Dar es Salaam)
A
group of 20 heavily armed soldiers from the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) travelling by boat, and docked at Kigoma Port on the shores
of Lake Tanganyika totally unannounced on Saturday the 5th
November, much to the amazement of Tanzania People's Defence Forces
(TPDF) officers and regional administration officials. The soldiers said
their mission was to pursue rebels whom they claimed were undergoing
medical treatment in Kigoma, according to information made available to
them. Incredibly, neither TPDF nor any other security organisation
intercepted the group throughout the journey and it was only shortly
after it had docked next to a Police Force vessel upon arrival, that the
soldiers were detained.
The 24 KJ, Commander, Lt Col Emanuel Mcheri,
told reporters yesterday that the DRC were detained because they had
entered Tanzania without following proper procedures. He further
explained that it was forbidden for armed soldiers of one country to
enter another unannounced, as the action could cause a war between them.
Lt Col Mcheri said the DRC soldiers were under the command of Lt Col
Mohamed Mustafa from 42 Infantry Section which has a base in Eastern
DRC. "They told us during interrogation that they were pursuing rebels
whom they were told were in Kigoma for medical treatment," he said,
adding "But they have crossed the border without following procedures.
We might as well regard this as an invasion... they travelled all the
way from the border to Kigoma Port without notifying us. We are
detaining them until we get further information and directives from
above." He said the soldiers were armed with various weapons, including
17 sub machine guns (SMGs), light machine guns (LMGs), pistols, rocket
propelled grenades, (RPGs), a hand grenade and three surface-to- air
missiles used for downing planes.
Lt Col Mcheri further explained: "They
also had a large number of rounds of ammunition. When we inspected them
and their boat, we impounded 32 SMG magazines with a total of 960
bullets. They also had 360 bullets for the LMGs...
They had a box full of
ammunition." He attributed failure to detect soldiers to the extensive
Tanzania borders, but stressed that TPDF was very keen on securing them
against intrusion by foreign forces. "Kigoma's borders with neighbouring
countries are very extensive and therefore securing them against
intrusion threat poses a major challenge; but I want to assure you that
we are very keen, alert and ready to respond to any threats to our
country at any time," he said.
Of the 20 detained soldiers, four are
officers and 11 infantry soldiers. In the group too is a civilian
reported to be a boat mechanic. Unconfirmed reports said that the
Regional Peace and Security Committee met at the Regional Commissioner's
office immediately after the intrusion by DRC soldiers was reported.
However, no hints on what was discussed had emerged. The soldiers are
reportedly being held at Bangwe prison and there are unconfirmed reports
that they might be charged for entering the country illegally.
On the 3rd
November this year, a group of nine people, believed to be rebels
fighting the DRC government in the eastern parts of the country, arrived
in Kigoma through Mtanga village.
They
surrendered at a TPDF camp at the village and were detained. Most of
them were injured and were rushed to Kigoma Regional Hospital, Maweni,
where they have been admitted for treatment. Reports from the hospital
said that one of them had died while receiving treatment.