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Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Rwanda-backed rebels have killed 80 civilians in Congo despite peace efforts, officials say
KINSHASA, Congo — Rwanda-backed rebels have killed at least 80 people in eastern Congo in recent weeks, Congolese authorities said, despite the ongoing Qatar-led peace process aiming to end the conflict. A decades-long conflict ravaging eastern Congo escalated this year when the M23 rebel group seized two key cities with the help of neighboring Rwandan forces. The Democratic Republic of Congo has long been racked by deadly conflict in its mineral-rich east, with more than 100 armed groups active. The continuing violence could threaten efforts to get Congo and the rebels to sign a permanent peace deal by Aug. 18 as hoped for. One of the deal's conditions is the protection of civilians and the safe return of millions of displaced people. The Congolese army said in a statement late Friday that it is 'fiercely condemning' what it described as a series of mass killing of civilians in South Kivu. It said that 80 people were killed Aug. 4 in the village of Nyaborongo, and that six civilians, including two children, were killed on July 24 in the village of Lumbishi. It blamed the the RDF/M23-AFC coalition, which includes the rebel groups M23 and AFC, both backed by the Rwanda Defense Force. 'In addition to this excessive criminality, the M23/AFC is engaged in the forced recruitment of young people, including minors, to join their illegal organization,' the statement said. There was no immediate comment from M23. When asked for a comment, the Rwandan foreign minister, Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, told the Associated Press that he could not comment on 'any stupidity coming from DRC,' using the acronym of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The United Nations' human rights chief, Volker Turk, said recently that M23 had killed 319 people in the previous month in a different part of the region, describing the toll as one of the largest documented of such attacks since the M23 rebels resurfaced in 2022. Citing firsthand accounts, Volker Turk said in a statement that the rebels, backed by Rwanda Defense Force members, targeted four villages in North Kivu province's Rutshuru territory between July 9 and July 21. M23 denied the accusations and called the U.N. statement 'unverified and politically motivated.' 'These allegations constitute a blatant manipulation of the facts, a violation of basic principles of impartiality, and a serious attack on the credibility of U.N. institutions,' said Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance, an umbrella organization that includes M23. 'We call for the opening of an independent investigation and hope that the organizations that published this report can participate in it.' The two sides signed a declaration of principles July 19 in Qatar to end the fighting and commit to a comprehensive peace agreement that would include the restoration of state authorities in key eastern cities controlled by the insurgents. Kamale writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Ignatius Ssuuna in Kigali, Rwanda, contributed to this report.
Business Insider
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
US brokers Congo–Rwanda peace deal without clear troop withdrawal terms
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a peace agreement brokered by the United States in Washington, aiming to address the protracted conflict in eastern Congo that has displaced hundreds of thousands and strained regional relations. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement to address the conflict in eastern Congo. The deal was signed in Washington and involves respect for territorial integrity and the return of displaced persons. A point of contention is the presence of Rwandan troops in the region, with differing interpretations of withdrawal terms. The deal was signed on Friday by the foreign ministers of both countries, alongside representatives from the United States and Qatar. While the full content of the agreement has not been made public, a previous statement referenced ' provisions on respect for territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities,' as well as the facilitation of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons. However, a major point of contention remains: the presence of Rwandan troops in eastern Congo. Rwanda, which has at least 7,000 soldiers on Congolese soil, emphasized that terms like 'Rwanda Defense Force,' 'Rwandan troops,' or 'withdrawal' do not appear in the signed document. 'The words 'Rwanda Defense Force,' 'Rwandan troops' or 'withdrawal' are nowhere to be seen in the document,' Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said in a statement a day before the signing. He also condemned the leak of a draft version of the agreement, calling for confidentiality. DRC, Rwanda clarifies agreement terms Meanwhile, the office of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi stated that the agreement ' does indeed provide for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops, ' though it prefers the term 'disengagement,' calling it a more comprehensive concept. Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told Reuters that any 'lifting of defensive measures in our border area' would depend on the ' neutralization ' of the FDLR. The conflict has deep roots. The M23 rebel group, one of the key actors today, emerged from a failed peace deal 16 years ago. Last year, Rwandan and Congolese experts agreed twice under Angolan mediation to a plan for troop withdrawal and joint action against the FDLR. However, the deal was never endorsed by ministers from both countries, and Angola eventually stepped down as mediator in March. Rwanda denies backing the M23, despite widespread accusations, and instead accuses Kinshasa of supporting the FDLR, a militia made up largely of Hutus linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The Congolese government denies this claim.
