The DRC army denied capturing 20 FDLR fighters, claiming a staged handover to Rwanda was fabricated. This controversy arose as the M23 group reported capturing these fighters, with the DRC accusing Rwanda of using deceptive tactics to justify its military presence. The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC raises fears of a larger regional war, involving multiple nations.
In a recent statement, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s army has rejected claims that 20 fighters connected to the Rwandan genocide were captured within its borders, asserting that a video showing their handover to Rwanda is fabricated. The controversy arose when the M23 armed group, supported by Rwanda, reported the capture of fighters from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia formed by ethnic Hutus involved in the 1994 genocide against Tutsis.
The M23’s activities have expanded in eastern DRC, where they have made significant territorial gains, including capturing the crucial provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu. In their published video, the M23 demonstrated the transfer of 20 alleged FDLR fighters to the Rwandan authorities at a border checkpoint.
DRC military leadership characterized the incident as “a faked incident in poor taste orchestrated with the sole aim of discrediting our army.” They further accused Rwanda of employing tactics of deception to legitimize its military incursions into Congolese territory. They also alleged that Rwandan forces have engaged in Elimination of wounded and sick soldiers at their field hospitals, which they defined as war crimes.
This escalating situation in eastern DRC has raised concerns about the potential for the conflict to escalate into a broader regional war, potentially involving Rwanda, Uganda, and neighboring nations. The ongoing tensions continue to highlight the instability within the mineral-rich region and the complexities of regional relationships.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army has dismissed allegations regarding the capture of FDLR fighters as staged events designed to undermine its credibility, stating that Rwanda is leveraging these claims to justify its military actions in the region. With rising tensions in eastern DRC, there are increasing fears of a wider regional conflict, drawing attention to the critical security dynamics in the area.
Original Source: jordantimes.com
