The DRC has denied capturing twenty alleged FDLR fighters and labeled a related video as fabricated. This denial follows claims from the M23 group, backed by Rwanda, which has led militarily in eastern DRC. The DRC’s military condemned these actions as part of Rwanda’s strategy and cited further allegations of war crimes committed by Rwandan forces in Goma.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has rejected claims that twenty fighters affiliated with the Rwandan genocide were captured on its territory, labeling a video purporting to document their handover to Rwanda as “faked.” This announcement followed a statement from the Rwanda-supported M23 armed group, which had reported the capture of these members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
The FDLR militia comprises ethnic Hutus implicated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide against Tutsis. Rwanda has previously cited the existence of the FDLR in eastern DRC to rationalize its support for the M23, which has recently expanded its control over significant areas in the mineral-rich eastern DRC, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu.
The M23 movement publicized a video showing its militants transferring the twenty alleged FDLR fighters at a border checkpoint. In response, Congolese military leadership criticized this incident as “a faked occurrence orchestrated to undermine our military’s credibility.” They further accused Rwanda of fabricating this situation to provide justification for its military interventions in DRC.
Congolese authorities also alleged war crimes, claiming that the Rwandan army conducted summary executions of injured and sick soldiers at a field hospital located in Goma. The escalating tensions in eastern DRC have raised significant concerns regarding the potential for broader regional conflict, involving neighboring countries such as Rwanda and Uganda.
In summary, the DRC’s military officially denies the capture of alleged genocide-linked fighters and has accused Rwanda of fabricating evidence to justify its incursions. The DRC leadership’s statements highlight ongoing tensions in the region, with significant implications for both national stability and international relations.
Original Source: jordantimes.com
