DR Congo Army Denies Claim of Captured Hutu Rebels, Labels Handover as Fake
The DRC army refuted claims that 20 alleged Hutu fighters were captured, calling a video of their handover to Rwanda fake. The M23 group, backed by Rwanda, had claimed responsibility for their capture. The DRC accused Rwanda of misrepresenting old detainees and violent acts within their own borders.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) army has denied claims regarding the capture of 20 fighters allegedly linked to the Rwandan genocide, stating that a video of their handover to Rwanda was fabricated. This denial follows a statement from the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group that it had apprehended members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia formed by ethnic Hutus involved in the 1994 genocide.
The M23 movement released images purportedly showing the transfer of these fighters at the DRC-Rwanda border. In response, the DRC military declared it an orchestrated event meant to tarnish its reputation, emphasizing that it aimed to bolster Rwanda’s justification for supporting the M23 against the DRC.
The DRC high command accused the Rwandan authorities of manipulating the situation by using older FDLR detainees, presenting them in new military uniforms to misrepresent them as recently captured fighters.
Additionally, the DRC military alleged that Rwandan forces are committing war crimes, pointing to instances of summary executions of injured soldiers at a field hospital in Goma. The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC is raising concerns about the potential for escalation into a broader regional conflict involving neighboring countries such as Rwanda and Uganda.
The DRC military’s dismissal of the handover video as fake highlights deepening tensions in the region. The accusations against Rwanda reflect ongoing hostilities and potential violations of international law. As the conflict escalates, there are rising concerns about its implications for regional stability and security.
Original Source: jordantimes.com
