JOHANNESBURG

Rwanda has rejected and decried France’s accusations that it supports the M23 rebels fighting in the eastern 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,” government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said in a short statement posted on X on Tuesday.

She added: “If the real issues at the origin of the ongoing conflict were addressed, the problem would not exist.”

France on Tuesday called on Rwanda to end “all support” to M23 rebels and pull out its troops from Congo. “M23 must cease fighting immediately and withdraw from all areas it occupies,” the French government said.

Kigali denies claims it supports the M23 rebels, who are said to be mainly composed of fighters of Rwandan Tutsi origin. Congolese Tutsi make up some 1-2% of Congo’s population.

In a statement last Saturday, the Rwandan Foreign Ministry said “The recent M23 advances are due to the DRC’s decision to expel the East African Community Regional Force in December 2023, which oversaw cease-fire and withdrawal efforts.”

Fighting has escalated in recent weeks between the M23 rebels and Congolese armed forces near Goma, Congo, killing dozens and displacing around a million people, according to reports. Eastern Congo is rich in mineral wealth.

Rwanda accuses Congo of pursuing regime change

Rwanda also said Congo has launched massive combat operations in North Kivu, which borders Rwanda, in violation of the decisions of regional mechanisms. It accuses Kinshasa of pursuing regime change in Rwanda.

“The Congolese political and military leadership, including President Felix Tshisekedi, has also repeatedly declared their intention to invade Rwanda and change its government by force,” the Foreign Ministry statement added.

It said: “Rwanda takes them (Congo) at their word, and has adjusted its posture accordingly. This includes measures to ensure complete air defense of Rwandan territory, and to degrade offensive air capabilities, following the introduction of advanced Chinese CH-4 attack drones by DRC in 2023, and repeated violations of Rwandan airspace by Congolese fighter jets.’’

Kigali claims Congo is working in concert with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Rwandan ethnic militia which is directly linked to the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda.

Kigali says protecting the rights and lives of Congolese Tutsis is the responsibility of the Congo and its consistent failure to do so has exposed the entire Great Lakes region to 30 years of conflict and instability.

“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,” he said.

Congo has yet to respond to these claims.

*Additional reporting by James Tasamba in Kigali, Rwanda