Kigali has again accused Kinshasa of creating grounds for “justifying an attack” on Rwandan soil as tensions between the two neighbours continue to escalate.
It all started with DRC’s army, known by its French acronym, FARDC, alleging that Rwanda had issued a press release on July 18, saying it was preparing to send troops to Congolese territory.
FARDC said Rwanda would justify the incursion based on the imminent attack by the genocidal militia, FDLR, against Rwanda from Congolese territory.
The Congolese armed forces further said Rwanda intended to officially invade the DRC to “formalise its deployments on Congolese soil, especially in the areas of Masisi, Rutshuru, and Nyiragongo.”
“The FARDC declares that in the event of an official attack on Congolese territory by the terrorist troops of the RDF and their lackeys of the M23, the government forces reserve the right to respond very vigorously,” warned FARDC.
However, in response on Wednesday night, Kigali denied issuing a press release about the situation on the common border.
Rwanda said the so-called July 18 statement by its government was “neither issued nor exists.”
“This claim by FARDC is merely a pretext aimed at escalating hostilities and justifying an attack on Rwandan soil, while they continue to support, arm and fight alongside the genocidal militia, FDLR,” said Rwanda.
However, Lieutenant Colonel William Ryarasa, the Rwanda Defence Force commander in charge of the districts of Rubavu, Rutsiro and Nyabihu bordering DRC, announced this past Saturday in a community meeting that “the terrorist FDLR is preparing to attack our country.”
He said the FDLR “informed us that they had already penetrated our communities and would soon throw grenades in Rubavu city” and urged locals ” to be more vigilant and also report suspicious elements to the nearest authorities.”
Smugglers
He told community leaders drawn from the three districts “not to allow any smugglers into their areas because grenades and other harmful weapons can be hidden in contraband.”
Relations between Rwanda and DRC have deteriorated in the last three years over support for armed movements in eastern Congo.
Both countries maintain standby forces near the common border.
FDLR militants, who mostly carried traditional weapons like knives, attacked and killed 19 people in Kinigi sector in Rubavu district in 2019.
The area is home to Volcanoes National Park, offering tourists scenic views and mountain gorilla tracking.
In response, Rwandan special forces pursued the FDLR fighters, killing 19 of them.
Kigali says the militia group, comprising remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, has been fighting alongside DRC forces in the war against M23 rebels.
Several UN reports have accused DRC of providing arms and intelligence to FDLR, compromising Rwanda’s security.
On its part, DRC accuses Rwanda of helping M23 rebels to destabilise North Kivu to enable Kigali’s exploitation of Congo’s mineral wealth.
Both countries deny the counteraccusations.
Rwanda on Wednesday night said it would “maintain mechanisms in place to guard against any violation of our airspace and borders, and will counter any spill-over from the conflict in Eastern DRC.”
Museveni Urges Tshisekedi to Talk to M23 Rebels
President Museveni has urged his Congolese counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi to hold talks with M23 rebels, Chimp Corps report.
Tshisekedi has since dismissed calls for political talks with M23 rebels, whom he describes as “terrorists.”
He recently said the M23 should gather in gazetted cantonment area or face the wrath of the Congolese military.
However, the government troops have failed to defeat the rebel movement reportedly backed by Rwanda.
President Museveni on Monday said the M23 movement is a political problem which can be solved by discussion because the rebels are not asking for big demands to end the conflict.
He said some of their demands are simply; “To go back to their homes which they run away from and to be integrated in the army.”'
Museveni added: “So, we are encouraging Tshisekedi (President of DRC) to agree with them (the M23 rebels) and if they do not want to discuss, then we can treat them as a negative force.”
“Many of the rebels are willing to contribute to the national security instead of becoming refugees.”
Museveni was today meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat at State House Entebbe on Monday, July 24 over the insecurity in Eastern Congo and Sudan.
“We have 480,000 Congolese as refugees here in Uganda and 1.2 million South Sudanese,” said Museveni.MORE