The Rwandan government is pushing for quick military action to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
A mini summit of heads of state from six out of 12 member countries of the International Committee on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Luanda last Thursday did not rule out a military solution to FDLR, which remains the strongest armed non state actor in the eastern DRC.
The rebels have up to October 2014 to voluntarily lay down their arms.
The summit was attended by Presidents Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Joseph Kabila of DRC and South Africa's Jacob Zuma as "a special guest." Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda's Foreign Affairs Minister, represented President Paul Kagame.
The resolve by regional leaders to rid eastern DRC of rebels is not an isolated one as the US and UK have supported similar efforts, signalling unprecedented pressure on FDLR rebels.
The FDLR rebels have not only wreaked havoc in DRC, but have also triggered diplomatic tension between Rwanda and Tanzania.
"There is a need to finish off the FDLR," said Russell Feingold, the US special envoy for the Great Lakes Region on the sidelines of the US-Africa Summit in Washington.
William Gelling, the British High Commissioner to Kigali said his country supported a military solution as an option to root out the rebels if they don't surrender
In addition, Mr Gelling urged all countries in the region to ensure the timetable issued is respected.
Mr Gelling said the UK believes that 20 years after 1994, putting an end to the FDLR and all armed groups is long overdue and wants to see a full disarmament exercise as soon as possible.
International pressure
Commentators say if this level of international pressure is kept up, an answer to the FDRL question, which has been a polarising factor in the Great Lakes region, could be found.
The fact that none of the Western powers has echoed Tanzania's view that Rwanda should hold talks with the rebels shows that there is a tilt of the international diplomatic machine in favour of President Kagame's government.
Relations between Dar es Salaam and Kigali have been at their chilliest ever since President Jakaya Kikwete proposed a negotiations between the government and FDLR.
Rwanda's military and Defence spokesman Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita said a military operation against the FDLR was long overdue.
"The heads of state had put in place two options; the need for the rebels to voluntarily surrender through UN to Rwanda where they would be reintegrated and resettled or face military action. For us, the rebels have not responded to this call. The process is very slow if not stalled. By now military action against the FDLR should have started if they will not voluntarily surrender," Brig Gen Nzabamwita said.
1994 genocide
Kigali maintains that the rebels, who are accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, still harbour the genocide ideology and should be corrected before being released into society.
The UN estimates there are 1,500 FDLR fighters in eastern DRC but official statistics indicate a paltry 186 of them and their families have surrendered.
Kigali says the rebels are taking advantage of the voluntary disarmament to send away the aged and sick fighters, women and children.
Observers note that while there is a semblance of peace in eastern DRC after the M23 rebels were defeated by combined forces from the Southern African Development Community and DRC, the situation there remains delicate as a number of militias, including FDLR, wander freely.