By Gael Masengi
In response to the accusations from Congolese diplomats that the United States of America is blocking the United Nation’s so-called Group of Experts on Congo’s overwhelming evidence implicating Rwanda reports,
this past week while Congolese people were “celebrating” Independence Day,
Washington has released a statement calling its central African ally Rwanda to stop
aiding army defectors waging war in the eastern side of the DRC. The statement
has come as result of pressure from various Human Rights groups urging Kigali’s
two largest donors (the UK and US) to influence their protégée to end with
immediate effect the support of armed groups. Here’s what the US said:
“The United States welcomes the release of the
findings of the Group of Experts of the UN Security Council’s Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC) Sanctions Committee. We are deeply concerned about
the report’s findings that Rwanda is implicated in the provision of support to
Congolese rebel groups, including mutinous elements now operating as the M23
armed group. Any such support threatens to further undermine security and fuel
displacement in the region. We are also concerned about the report’s findings
that the mutineers have forcibly recruited child soldiers.
Consistent with the UN Security Council’s
arms embargo, we have urged all parties to respond constructively to the Group
of Experts’ findings and have asked Rwanda
to halt and prevent the provision the provision of such support from its
territory. We have also urged the DRC and Rwanda to implement the principles of
the joint Congolese-Rwandan communique issued following the June 19 meeting of
the two countries’ foreign ministers in Kinshasa. Restraint and dialogue in the
context of respect for each other’s sovereignty offer the best opportunity to
resume the difficult to work of bringing peace and security to the eastern DRC
and the broader region.”
Source: state.gov
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