DR Congo Denies Staged Handover of Alleged Hutu Rebels to Rwanda

The DRC army denied allegations of capturing 20 FDLR fighters, claiming a video of their handover to Rwanda was staged. The accusation comes after the M23 armed group, backed by Rwanda, asserted it had seized the fighters. The DRC military accused Rwanda of exploiting such claims to justify its invasion of DRC territory and also raised concerns about alleged war crimes by Rwandan forces.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) military refuted claims regarding the capture of 20 fighters associated with the Rwandan genocide, labeling a video of their supposed handover to Rwanda as a fabrication. This assertion followed statements from the M23 armed group, which claimed responsibility for capturing members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia established by Hutus involved in the 1994 genocide.

The M23, supported by Rwanda, has taken control of significant territory in the DRC’s mineral-rich eastern regions, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu. Following their claims, a video emerged depicting the M23 purportedly handing over these fighters at a border intersection.

In its statement, the Congolese military described the incident as a poorly orchestrated event aimed at discrediting their forces. They accused Rwanda of fabricating the video using previously detained individuals, asserting that such tactics align with Rwanda’s broader strategy of justifying its military incursions into DRC territory.

Moreover, the DRC military implicated Rwandan forces in alleged war crimes, specifically citing the summary execution of wounded soldiers at a field hospital in Goma. This alarming situation in eastern DRC has heightened tensions, raising concerns about the potential for a broader regional conflict involving neighboring countries such as Rwanda and Uganda.

In summary, the DRC government has vehemently denied the capture of alleged FDLR fighters, branding the claims and accompanying video as falsified. The situation reflects ongoing tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, with accusations of manipulation and war crimes heightening fears of an escalated conflict in the region. The DRC’s military remains vigilant amid these developments as regional stability is at risk.

Original Source: jordantimes.com