The DRC army has dismissed a video showing the handover of 20 alleged FDLR fighters to Rwanda as staged. This claim follows the M23 group’s announcement of their capture. The DRC military accuses Rwanda of fabricating evidence to justify its military actions in the region and has raised accusations of war crimes against Rwandan forces.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has asserted that the reported handover of 20 alleged Hutu rebels to Rwanda was staged. This assertion followed a statement from the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group, which claimed to have captured members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) in eastern DRC. The Congolese army characterized a video depicting the handover as a poorly executed fabrication intended to undermine the credibility of their military.
In recent months, the M23, with Rwandan support, has gained control over significant territories in eastern DRC, including critical provincial capitals such as Goma and Bukavu. The DRC military leadership accused Rwanda of manipulating events to justify its military presence in the region. They claimed that the Rwandan authorities utilized previously detained FDLR members, dressed them in new military uniforms, and misrepresented them as new captives from Goma.
Furthermore, the DRC high command alleged that Rwandan forces were involved in unlawful executions of wounded soldiers at a field hospital located in Goma. This action, they stated, constitutes a severe violation of international law—a war crime and a crime against humanity. As tensions escalate in eastern DRC, there are growing concerns regarding the potential for a broader regional conflict involving various countries, including Rwanda and Uganda.
The DRC’s denial of the staged handover of alleged FDLR fighters highlights the ongoing complexities of the conflict involving Rwandan support for the M23 group. With allegations of war crimes and manipulation from both sides, the situation remains highly volatile, raising alarms about the possibility of a larger regional conflict that may implicate neighboring nations.
Original Source: jordantimes.com
