Rwanda has accused the United States of criticizing the escalating violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo while expressing “deep concern” over what it calls the collapse of the regional peace process.
Rwanda also said in a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the international community remains indifferent to the decision by regional mechanisms to “dramatically build up the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“The Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force has supported the Democratic Republic of Congo’s military in its fight against a number of armed groups, including the M23.
Last week, two South African SADC soldiers were killed and three others injured after a mortar hit their base.
Over the weekend, the United States condemned Rwanda’s alleged support of Congolese M23 troops and called on the East African country to immediately withdraw all troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwanda denies supporting M23.
A statement from a US State Department spokesperson called on Rwanda to “remove surface-to-air missile systems located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo because they allegedly threaten the lives of civilians, peacekeepers, and commercial aircraft.”
The US statement distorts reality, adding that the actions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo endanger the security of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and that the Democratic Republic of the Congo reserves the right to take steps to protect itself from this threat.
The statement contradicts the tone of the confidence-building process launched last year by the US Director of National Intelligence who said he would seek clarification from the US.