Diplomatic fallout: Congo cuts ties with Rwanda amid rebel chaos
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has severed diplomatic relations with Rwanda. The decision is based on allegations that authorities in Kigali are supporting rebels attacking Congolese government forces. At least 13 soldiers from international peacekeeping forces have already lost their lives in this internal conflict.
Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, told AFP that Rwandan diplomacy no longer has a representative in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We evacuated our remaining diplomat on Friday through Brazzaville, as Congolese officials regularly threatened him," said the head of Rwanda's foreign affairs department.
The Rwandan official added that the evacuation of officials was reportedly planned even before the DRC authorities issued the "alleged verbal note."
Hot in Africa: they broke off diplomatic relations with Rwanda
In recent days, in clashes with M23 rebels, nine soldiers from South Africa, three from Malawi, and one from Uruguay have lost their lives. Militias from the M23 group have occupied a substantial area along the border with Rwanda. In this way, the rebels have approached the North Kivu provincial capital, Goma, which has a population of 2 million.
Since 2021, Goma has been protected by the Congolese army, which is supported by UN peacekeeping forces and the Southern African Development Community. UN peacekeepers, who number about 14,000 soldiers, have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for over twenty years.
The authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the UN accused Rwanda of fueling the conflict by supplying the rebels with soldiers and weapons. The authorities in Kigali deny this, although it contradicts information provided by the Congolese army. On Saturday, Rwandan snipers allegedly contributed to the death of the North Kivu military governor on the front line.
In the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 120 different armed groups have been fighting for power, territories, and valuable mineral resources for years. Recent years have seen an intensification of attacks by rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) linked to the jihadist Islamic State.
The second most active armed group in the region is M23. Methodically, it is taking over territories rich in gold from the authorities and has made the area around Goma its stronghold. The organization's name comes from the peace agreement between the rebels and the DRC government on March 23, 2009.
