The United States has condemned Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), accusing it of fueling the recent escalation of violence in the eastern part of the country.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the US Department of State expressed concern about the unrest in Sake, attributing it to the M23 group, which it claims is “backed by Rwanda” and already under UN sanctions.
The statement also called on the government of DRC to continue to support confidence building measures, including ceasing cooperation with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group named as a “negative.
according to the US department, the rebel activity “puts millions of citizens at risk,” citing existing issues like human rights violations, displacement, and armed group attacks. It calls for an immediate ceasefire by M23 and withdrawal from Goma and Sake, as stipulated in the Luanda and Nairobi agreements.
