The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E Felix Tshisekedi, has summoned the Rwandan ambassador to Kinshasa, accusing the Kigali government of supporting March 23 Movement (M23) rebels.
On Friday, President Tshisekedi chaired an extraordinary meeting of the Superior Defence Council (the National Security Council).
In its order and decision, the National Security Council declared that M23 is “a designated terrorist organization” supported by Rwanda.
The Council further decided to suspend RwandAir flights from Kigali effective immediately.
“In view of Rwanda’s support for the M23 terrorists, it has been decided to immediately suspend RwandAir flights to our country,” said Communications Minister, Patrick Muyaya, in a press briefing.
The council also concluded that the “relationship between DRC and Rwanda shall be with an abundance of caution”.
According to Muyaya, the Superior Council of Defence cautioned the Rwandan government that is disrupting the peace process.
The council further decided to summon the Rwandan ambassador Vincent Karega to notify him of the total disapproval of the Congolese government.
“A warning was made to the Rwandans, whose attitude is likely to disrupt the peace process … where all the armed groups, except for the M23, are committed to the path to peace,” Muyaya further said.
Rwanda claims soldiers abducted
On Saturday, Rwanda said two of its soldiers were being held captive by rebels in the DRC.
Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) said the soldiers were kidnapped on patrol by rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) group.
The two soldiers were identified as; Corporal Nkundabagenzi Elysee and Private Ntwari Gad.
RDF said the abduction followed an attack earlier this week along the border by Congolese forces and FDLR rebels.
“We call upon authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo that work closely with these genocidal armed groups to secure the release of the RDF soldiers,” the RDF said in a statement.
Rwanda has continuously sought to enter DRC in the guise of fighting rebels.
In 2021, hundreds of Goma residents in DRC protested the arrival of Rwandese security agents in the region.
The police dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas canisters and live ammunition. One policeman and another protester were killed and dozens of others injured.
How relations soured between Kinshasa and Kigali
On May 23, 2022, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) requested the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) to investigate cross-border shelling on Rwandan territory by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).
The Rwandan army claimed a FARDC rocket shelling hit Kinigi and Nyange Sectors in Musanze District which also borders Gahunga sector in Burera District injuring several civilians and damaging property.
However, DR Congo rejected Rwanda’s accusations saying Rwanda Defence Force backs M23.
It is not the first time Congolese authorities accuse Rwanda of backing M23.
Kinshasa has regularly accused Rwanda of carrying out incursions into its territory and of backing armed groups there.
Rwanda has described allegations of supporting rebels in Congo as baseless.
DR Congo Accuses Rwanda of Backing M23 Rebels
On May 26, DRC accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group as the Congolese army clashed with the militia in the eastern part of the country.
Fighting with the rebel group erupted on several fronts this week in North Kivu which borders Rwanda.
After a crisis meeting with the prime minister, Congo spokesperson Muyaya told the press: “suspicions are crystallising that the M23 has received support from Rwanda”.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Christophe Lutundula, was also quoted by AFP accusing Rwanda of backing the M23 after the militia attacked Rumangabo army camp, north of Goma.
“This is the height of brazenness, we cannot remain indifferent, we cannot say nothing,” Lutundula told delegates at an African Union meeting in Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday.
Rwanda Government spokeswoman, Yolande Makolo, in response, said they have “no intention of being drawn into an internal matter of the DRC”.
M23, a Congolese Tutsi group, briefly captured North Kivu’s provincial capital Goma in late 2012 before the army quelled the rebellion the following year.
The group resumed fighting this year after accusing the Congolese government of failing to respect a 2009 agreement under which its fighters were to be incorporated into the army.
Congo and U.N. investigators had also accused Kigali of supporting the M23 during a 2012-2013 insurrection that took Goma before being forced back and chased into Uganda and Rwanda. Kigali denied doing so.
