The US has reiterated fears that Rwanda was supporting a rebellion in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), whose rapid advances have led Kinshasa to expel the border country’s ambassador. During a visit to both countries in August, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned of “credible” reports of Rwandan support for the “March 23 Movement” (M23), a former Tutsi rebellion
The US has reiterated fears that Rwanda was supporting a rebellion in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), whose rapid advances have led Kinshasa to expel the border country’s ambassador. During a visit to both countries in August, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned of “credible” reports of Rwandan support for the “March 23 Movement” (M23), a former Tutsi rebellion.
The US diplomatic sources said that state support for armed groups was unacceptable and reiterated concerns about Rwanda’s support for M23. US sources called for restoring peace in the region while respecting each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US has been in frequent contact with their Rwanda and DRC counterparts over the past week as tensions have risen.
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After several weeks of calm, the M23 has been advancing since October 20 into the Rutshuru territory, north of Goma. The “March 23 Movement” is a former Tutsi rebellion that took up arms again at the end of 2021, blaming Kinshasa for not respecting agreements on the reintegration of its fighters.
Importantly, Kinshasa announced recently the expulsion of the Rwandan ambassador to the DRC, after months of tensions and accusations of support for the M23. However, Kigali denied the accusations and claimed that the DRC was collaborating with Rwandan Hutu rebels. Relations between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are mired for nearly 30 years in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
