In the shifting web of political allegiances, commercial interests and military power that stretches across the region, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, better known by their French acronym, are out of favour and under siege. The FDLR’s Europe-based president and vicepresident were arrested in Germany this month, charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In eastern Congo’s forested hills, FDLR fighters are under assault by the UN-backed Congolese Army, which began a fresh offensive in March. Footsoldiers such as Corporal Rakundo are abandoning the group in growing numbers and its ability to trade in conflict minerals such as gold, coltan and tin ore has been hampered.

A BBC correspondent says Maj Gen Kazini died after being hit on the head with an iron bar during a brawl.

An army spokesman said he had been a victim of domestic violence. His girlfriend has been arrested.

He was sacked as army chief in 2003 after UN accusations that he plundered resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo when leading operations there.

He was in charge of Ugandan troops who clashed with their Rwandan counterparts in the eastern Congolese town of Kisangani in 1999.