The United States of America has spoken out on the reported presence of Rwandan troops in the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The United States Embassy in Kinshasa stood out from all other chancelleries concerning the fighting in Rutshuru territory,” the embassy said on Tuesday.
“Without a wooden tongue, she openly mentioned the presence of Rwandan troops on Congolese soil joining the position of the Congolese government.”
“We are extremely concerned about the recent fighting in eastern DRC and the reported presence of Rwandan forces on the territory of the DRC. Provocative behavior and incendiary remarks must stop.”
The embassy said such actions increase the risk of violence and destruction in eastern Congo and harm all the inhabitants of the region.
This tweet came a day after M23 rebels occupied the city of Bunagana near the border with Uganda, allegedly supported by Rwanda Special Forces.
Last February, the United States, through its embassy in the DRC, reiterated its commitment to restoring peace in eastern DRC.
The cultural attaché at the United States Embassy in the DRC, Charlotte Fadare, is quoted by Radio Okapi making the pledge during the closing of the activities of the Amani Festival held from February 4 to 6, in Goma.
MONUSCO exonerates Uganda in Bunagana attack
Meanwhile, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has dismissed allegations claiming Uganda was involved in the recent capture of Bunagana town.
Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, MONUSCO liaison officer with the FARDC, clarified during a show on Radio Okapi.
“We have not seen or heard anything that (the Ugandans have) betrayed their FARDC allies,” assured Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey.
He also wondered “how Uganda, which actively participates in the fight – in collaboration with the FARDC and MONUSCO, in particular, the ADF group near the Beni region and in southern Ituri – could have suddenly start betraying the Congo?”
Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey also reiterated the call for calm made to all parties by the head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita and welcomed the mediation led by Angolan President Joao Lourenço.
Economic base?
A socio-economic actor in North Kivu, Pépé Mikwa, on Tuesday told Radio Okapi that the city of Bunagana, located 70 km from Goma (North Kivu) constitutes a source of income for the M23.
“If the M23 rebels occupied this post [Bunagana] for several more days, this would constitute, for them, a great source of income to finance the rebellion: that is why they will have to be prevented from doing so. And it will be a real shortfall for the future budgets of the DRC,“ said Pépé Mikwa.
He said the commercial flow passing through Bunagana is so important that taking it risks suffocates the city of Goma.
Pépé Mikwa said that the city of Bunagana also constitutes a triangle of several kilometers where transit goods for a million American dollars, each month.
Under rebel control, Bunagana is strategic in cross-border trade between North Kivu and neighboring countries including Uganda and Rwanda.
He recalled that in 2012, this city had also served as a rear base for the same M23 group before seizing the city of Goma.
Additional Reporting by Radio Okapi