A UN photo of Reverend Christopher Mtikila’s residence in
Reverend Christopher Mtikila has on several occasions hosted senior commanders of Rwandan FDLR rebels transiting through Dar es Salaam Tanzania in efforts to link them up with the outside work, the UN and the politician himself have confirmed. While in Dar es Salaam, they stayed at the personal residence of Rev. Mtikila which is identified in the photo above. According to UN Group of Experts report on DRC released on 24 January 2014, Reverend Mtikila confirmed to them that he had indeed hosted the FDLR political and military officials.
Disappearance of sanctioned FDLR leader Stanislas Nzeyimana (Bigaruka)
Early in February of 2013, one of the FDLR commanders from DRC disappeared. The UN experts say that while FDLR officers and intelligence sources from the region had told the Group that Rwandan officials were detaining Bigaruka, other FDLR sources alleged that Tanzanian security services placed Bigaruka under house arrest in Dar Es Salaam. The UN Group attempted to confirm this allegation with the Tanzanian authorities, which told the Group they were not aware of Bigaruka’s travel and stay in Dar Es Salaam, and had no information about his disappearance or whereabouts.
The UN Group however documented Bigaruka’s travel to Tanzania in violation of the travel ban imposed upon him. Three individuals, including Joseph Nzabonimpa (see S/2012/843, para. 101; Annex 40), told the Group that they – along with Faustin Murego – travelled to Dar es Salaam in January 2013 and met Bigaruka to discuss demobilization and disarmament as well as the issue of child soldiers (see annex 41).
At the beginning of his stay in Dar es Salaam, Bigaruka stayed in the house of Tanzanian reverend Christopher Mtikila, which the reverend acknowledged to the UN Group (see annex 42). In early February, after these meetings, Bigaruka disappeared. The Group continues to investigate the matter.
Source: United Nations Official Document
