Earlier than visiting Rwanda, Blinken stated the US was “involved” by studies of Rwanda’s help for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rebels.
On the eve of his go to to Rwanda on Wednesday, Overseas Minister Anthony Blinken stated his nation was “involved” by “credible” studies that Rwanda was supporting rebels in japanese DRC.
The rise of the M23 within the restive japanese Congo has exacerbated tensions between the 2 neighbors, with Kinshasa accusing Kigali of supporting the rebels.
Blinken was talking within the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, the place he arrived on Tuesday on the second leg of a three-nation African tour and met President Felix Tshisekedi.
Rwanda denied the allegations.
“We’re deeply involved by credible studies that Rwanda supported the March 23 motion,” the highest US diplomat stated at a press convention in Kinshasa. All nations should respect the territorial integrity of their neighbours. Any entry of international forces into the DRC should be performed with transparency and with the consent of the DRC.”
Blinken added that he “didn’t flip a blind eye” and that he would talk about the problem with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
He stated his journey to the area was to safe US help for mediation efforts led by Angola and Kenya “to stop additional violence, finish the battle (and) to protect the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
He spoke after visiting South Africa on Monday, the place he stated america was looking for a “actual partnership” with Africa.
Strained relations The Democratic Republic of Congo is looking for worldwide help as Rwanda struggles over the March 23 Motion, a gaggle of primarily Congolese Tutsis, one in every of many working within the restive east.
After mendacity dormant for years, the rebels resumed preventing late final 12 months, capturing the strategic city of Bunagana on the Ugandan border in June and driving hundreds of individuals to flee their houses.
In a 131-page report back to the UN Safety Council seen by AFP final week, specialists stated Rwandan forces had intervened militarily contained in the DRC since no less than November.
The specialists’ report stated Rwanda “offered troop reinforcements” for particular M23 operations, “notably when these purpose to seize strategic cities and areas”.
Congolese Overseas Minister Christophe Lutendola urged the United Nations on Tuesday to publish the report.
“We demand the Safety Council to publish (this) report in its entirety,” he stated.
Relations between Kinshasa and Kigali have been strained for the reason that mass inflow of Rwandan Hutus accused of slaughtering Tutsis through the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Relations started to enhance after Tshisekedi took workplace in 2019, however the re-emergence of the March 23 Motion has revived tensions.
The group, often known as the “March 23 Motion,” first jumped to prominence in 2012 when it briefly captured town of Goma earlier than a joint Congolese and United Nations offensive to drive it out.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta spearheaded an initiative to disarm energetic insurgent teams, whereas his Angolan counterpart Joao Lourenco labored to ease tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali.
Rwanda and the March 23 Motion
Blinken arrived in Kinshasa from South Africa, the place he stated the US was looking for a “actual partnership” with Africa and never competing with different powers for affect on the continent.
His workplace stated in an announcement on Monday that Tshisekedi was resulting from “increase questions of strategic partnership” between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and america throughout his assembly with Blinken on the presidential palace.
On the eve of Blinken’s swing throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, Human Rights Watch urged him to sentence the M23 assaults and strain Rwanda on its human rights document, which has included a “brutal” crackdown on dissent.
“As in 2012, the March 23 Motion is committing battle crimes in opposition to civilians,” a Human Rights Watch assertion learn.
“Witnesses described the abstract killings of no less than 29 individuals, together with youngsters, in June and July…america ought to increase with Rwanda the credible studies that it as soon as once more helps the abusive habits of M23 in japanese Congo.”
The March 23 Motion is only one of dozens of armed teams roaming the japanese Democratic Republic of the Congo, a lot of that are the legacy of two regional wars that broke out within the late final century.
One of many bloodiest militias is the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) – a company that the Islamic State group describes as its “Central African Province” department.
The US State Division positioned the Coalition of Democratic Forces on its checklist of “terrorist” organizations linked to ISIS in March 2021.
(France 24 with AFP)
