DR Congo Armed Forces Deny Staged Handover of Alleged Hutu Rebels

The DRC army has denied claims regarding the handover of 20 alleged FDLR fighters to Rwanda, calling the incident staged. The M23 movement announced capturing the fighters, but DRC officials assert it was an orchestrated event to undermine their military credibility. Allegations of war crimes against Rwandan forces further complicate the deteriorating situation in eastern DRC, raising fears of regional conflict.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military has publicly rejected claims that 20 fighters associated with the Rwandan genocide were captured within its borders, labeling a video portraying their handover to Rwanda as a fabrication. This denial follows a statement by the Rwanda-supported M23 armed group, which had asserted the capture of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) members, a militia established by Hutus involved in the 1994 genocide against Tutsis.

The M23 released footage showcasing the transfer of these alleged FDLR fighters at a border checkpoint, but the Congolese armed forces dismissed the event as “a faked incident in poor taste orchestrated with the sole aim of discrediting our army.” They further alleged that this scenario forms part of a broader Rwandan strategy aimed at justifying their incursions into Congolese territory.

The high command of the DRC also accused Rwanda of conducting “summary executions” of injured or ill soldiers at a hospital in Goma, labeling such actions as war crimes and crimes against humanity. In this escalating conflict in eastern DRC, there are growing concerns that tensions may escalate into a larger regional war, involving additional nations such as Uganda and Rwanda.

The situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains highly volatile, with accusations between the Congolese military and the Rwandan government intensifying. The DRC’s military has categorically rejected the claims of recent fighter handovers, asserting that these incidents are staged efforts to malign their reputation. Given the complexities of the conflict, the potential for wider regional ramifications is a pressing concern for observers.

Original Source: jordantimes.com