The First Congo War: How the FDLR greatened the tensions

 The rise of the FDLR began with the first and second Congo wars. In 1996 the newly established Tutsi government feared that the fled Hutu militia were going to invade Rwanda from the eastern border of the DRC (then called Zaire) because they were attacking Tutsi’s in Zaire.  This led to the act of the Rwandan government arming Zairean Tutsi’s. The act of arming these Tutsi’s started the mass tension and violence between the FDLR and the Rwandan government as well as the tension between FDLR and the Zairean Tutsi’s. The Zaire president opposed the action of Rwanda, which led to civilian upset about the way he was handling Hutu extremist. The actions and violence of the FDLR not only caused civilian deaths and damage but also political uproar and deterioration. Eventually rebel groups formed and removed Mobuto from power. When Kabila became the next president he distanced himself from his Rwandan patrons, which caused the Rwandan government to supports rebel groups against Kabila’s presidency.  The FDLR had the power and influence in Congo and Rwanda to cause tensions and violence between the two neighboring countries.