DR Congo summons Rwandan envoy over attacks on troops

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - The Congolese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned Rwanda’s ambassador over recent attacks on the country's troops.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels in Sunday's attacks on military positions in the eastern regions of Tchanzu and Runyonyi.

“The Rwandan diplomat (Vincent Karega) is to meet the deputy prime minister in charge of foreign affairs to explain the allegations of support by his country's army to the M23 rebels, and see how to permanently solve this problem,” Patrick Muyaya, the communication and media minister, said.

Rwanda has rejected the allegations calling them "baseless" in a statement released on Tuesday.

The fighting started Sunday night in Rutshuru territory, forcing about 13,000 people to flee to neighboring Uganda.

This is reportedly the third time since October 2021 that the Congolese army has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels.

Last November, Rwanda denied similar accusations that its soldiers were involved in M23 clashes with government troops in North Kivu province.

In 2013, the M23 rebel group signed a peace agreement in Kenya’s capital Nairobi with the Congolese government.

But the M23 leaders accuse the government of failing to respect the agreement as clashes continue.​​​​​​​