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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are crossing swords, which may have repercussions in the region. The enmity between the two neighbours has a long history. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels who seized the town of Bunagana on the border with Uganda last week
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are crossing swords, which may have repercussions in the region. The enmity between the two neighbours has a long history. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels who seized the town of Bunagana on the border with Uganda last week. DRC sources in a statement said that the higher council of defence chaired by the head of state Félix Tshisekedi decided to suspend bilateral agreements with Rwanda.
Félix Tshisekedi also called on the international community, in particular the United States and the United Kingdom, to condemn this invasion. He wanted these countries to put pressure on Rwandan President Paul Kagame to recall his troops who had invaded eastern Congo. The Congolese government said that it welcomed the proposal of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to deploy a regional force in eastern DRC to restore peace. But however, it made clear that it would not accept the participation of Rwanda in this joint force.
In the meanwhile, Kigali denied its role in supporting the rebels in the DRC. The M23 (for “March 23 Movement”) is a former Tutsi-dominated rebellion, which took the lives of many and history records it as a genocide. The movement was defeated in 2013 but took up arms again in late 2021.
The Supreme Defence Council, which met recently has taken several decisions. Foremost, it demanded that Rwanda immediately withdraw its troops, operating under the cover of the terrorist M23 group, from Congolese territory. Secondly. it also requested the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo suspend all protocols of agreements, accords and conventions concluded with Rwanda.
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The new development of the crisis comes after several demonstrations against Rwanda took place in different Congolese cities. On Monday, the border town of Bunagana was seized by the rebels forcing thousands of residents to flee. Rwanda and Uganda have denied for years that they support the M23 group. Rwanda’s government, meanwhile, has blamed Congolese forces for injuring several civilians in cross-border shelling.
