DR Congo Denies Staged Handover of Alleged Hutu Rebels to Rwanda

The DRC military has denied the capture of 20 alleged FDLR fighters, labeling a video of their handover to Rwanda as fabricated. The M23 movement’s claims are seen as part of Rwanda’s strategy to justify its support, amidst ongoing conflict in the region. The DRC also accused Rwandan forces of committing war crimes, raising concerns of a wider regional conflict.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military has rejected claims that 20 fighters allegedly linked to the Rwandan genocide were captured within its territory. They called a video showcasing the transfer of these fighters to Rwanda a “faked” event aimed solely at undermining the Congolese army’s credibility. The M23 movement, which is supported by Rwanda, stated it had apprehended members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia formed by ethnic Hutus involved in the 1994 Tutsi genocide.

The M23’s assertion comes amidst ongoing accusations from Rwanda regarding the presence of the FDLR in eastern Congo, which Rwanda uses to justify its backing of M23. Recently, the M23 has taken control of significant areas in eastern DRC, including strategic cities like Goma and Bukavu. The Congolese high command has expressed that the incident portrayed in the video is part of a broader Rwandan strategy to legitimize their military actions in the region.

DR Congo’s military further accused Rwanda of serious violations, including conducting summary executions of wounded personnel within a field hospital in Goma, actions which they classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity. This evolving conflict in eastern DRC raises alarms of a possible expansion into a larger regional war involving neighboring countries such as Rwanda and Uganda, increasing tension in an already volatile area.

In summary, the DR Congo military disputes the authenticity of a reported handover of alleged FDLR fighters. They label the incident as a fabrication designed to discredit their forces while asserting that Rwanda is manipulating the situation to justify its military actions. The situation remains tense, with potential consequences for regional stability as conflict escalates in eastern Congo.

Original Source: jordantimes.com