Rwanda refutes allegation of supporting M23 rebels in DRC

The government of Rwanda has strongly refuted allegations by Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),  that Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) supported M23 rebels who attacked Congolese army (FARDC) positions near the border with Rwanda and Uganda on Monday. 

After fighting erupted in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), between government forces and M23 rebels, Gen Sylvain Ekenge, the spokesperson for the North Kivu Governor accused the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) of supporting armed elements that attacked FARDC positions  in the villages of Tshanzu and Runyoni, about 31 miles northeast of the North Kivu Provincial capital, Goma.

At a press briefing, Gen Ekenge paraded two people whom he claimed were Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) soldiers captured supporting M23 rebels against FARDC during fighting in the territory of Rutshuru.

“We are aware of a communiqué and media reports emanating from the Spokesperson of the North Kivu Governor, which in the name of (FARDC), accuses Rwanda Defence Forces of supporting armed elements that attacked FARDC in areas of Tshanzu and Runyoni (DRC). We would like to categorically refute the baseless accusations and state that RDF is not by any means involved in the belligerent activities across in DRC, ”  a communiqué signed by the Governor of Western Province, Francois Habitegeko, reads.   

The communiqué by Western Province Governor termed media reports from North Kivu Governor’s Spokesman as false allegations claiming that two individuals purportedly members of RDF were captured. The Communiqué clarified that “The two names were mentioned by the Congolese Military and Intelligence Delegation during DRC-Rwanda Bilateral Meeting of the Joint Intelligence Teams held on 25 February 2022 in Kigali. The Joint Intelligence Teams were not subsequently allowed to interrogate those individual for a Joint Assessment.”  

The communiqué mentions that presenting two individuals who were arrested under obscure circumstances more than a month ago, as elements captured in the fighting on 28 March 2022, is a manipulative attempt.

Rwanda reminded that there are verification mechanisms under the ICGRL and at a bilateral level to verify such allegations and that DRC should have activated them if they were acting in good faith. “We call upon EJVM and JIT to investigate these absurd accusations against RDF,” the communiqué by Governor Francois Habitegeko reads.    

The communiqué further reminded that GoR has consistently offered its cooperation for the repatriation of Congolese ex combatants, who were disarmed and cantoned, and therefore, the GoR should not bear the responsibility of the failure of the GoDRC to conclude the process harmoniously.  

It should be recalled that in 2013, the villages of Tshanzu and Runyoni, were the last strongholds of M23 rebels before they were driven out by Congolese and UN forces and ran to Rwanda and Uganda.

M23 spokesman Willy Ngoma was quoted by media last week lamenting that the peace process with DRC had taken long to be implemented.  "Our organisation, the M23, which has been able to patiently wait nine years for the implementation of the peace process, deplores this dreadful option of violence."