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Rwanda Refutes Allegations by France of Supporting M23 Rebels in DR Congo

11:14, 22 February 2024

Muhammad Nooh Osman

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Сlashes between the M23 rebels and Congolese forces near Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province in the DRC, have intensified in recent weeks. The violence has resulted in casualties, including deaths and the displacement of thousands of people, and highlighted the region's rich mineral resources as a key factor in the conflict.

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Rwanda has dismissed and criticized accusations from Paris regarding its alleged support for the M23 rebels operating in the eastern part of the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

"On today's statement by the French Government about the situation in eastern DRC: No one knows more about the root causes and history of the conflict in eastern DRC than France," Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said in a statement posted on social media on Tuesday.

Makolo stated that addressing the underlying issues would be crucial in resolving the ongoing conflict.

France earlier urged Rwanda to cease any "support" for the M23 rebels and withdraw its troops from Congo, insisting that the rebel group immediately cease hostilities and vacate the territories it currently controls.

Amid allegations suggesting that the M23 primarily consists of Rwandan Tutsi fighters, Kigali has repeatedly denied claims of backing the group. The Congolese Tutsi population constitutes a small percentage (1-2%) of the total population of the DRC.

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In a recent statement, Rwanda's Foreign Ministry attributed the M23's recent advancements to the expulsion of the East African Community Regional Force by the DRC in December 2023. This expulsion disrupted ceasefire efforts and withdrawal processes, leading to the current escalation of conflict, Kigali analyzed.

Rwanda has insisted that the resolution of the with M23 should be pursued through political means within the Congolese context.

"Rwanda’s position is that the M23 issue must be resolved politically amongst Congolese. It will not be accepted for the problem to be externalized into Rwanda, by force, once again," Kigali said.

Ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo linked to various rebel groups, most notably the M23, has resulted in significant population displacement, with millions of people forced from their homes, according to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA.

In addition, recent clashes between the predominantly Tutsi M23 rebellion and Congolese government forces near Sake, a town 20 kilometers from Goma in North Kivu province, have further exacerbated the security situation in the region.