The government has accused the neighboring state of backing the M23 militia amid a resurgence of violence in the eastern regions
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has broken off diplomatic relations with neighboring Rwanda, Actualite reported on Saturday, citing a communique addressed to the Rwandan Embassy.
Kinshasa has repeatedly accused the Rwandan government of supporting the M23 militia, which has recently intensified its offensive in North and South Kivu in the eastern part of the country, claiming that the neighboring state is fueling the conflict with its own troops and weapons.
“All diplomatic and consular activities of the Republic of Rwanda’s embassy in Kinshasa must cease within 48 hours,” the Congolese Foreign Ministry said, as cited by Actualite.
The DRC has been plagued by decades of violence, particularly in the east, as dozens of armed groups, including M23, are fighting the local authorities for resources. The hinterland territories of the regions are rich in minerals such as gold, cassiterite, coltan, diamonds, tourmaline, pyrochlore, and Wolfram. During the latest escalation, M23 militants seized control of more territory than ever before, prompting the UN to warn of the risk of a broader regional conflict.
The Guardian reported on Sunday, citing intelligence officials, that the Rwandan military forced its way through the Congolese border to help the military groups in seizing North Kivu province’s capital, Goma.
Earlier this month, Rwandan President Paul Kagame denied that his country supports M23, dismissing allegations about Kigali’s role in the conflict in the neighboring state.
Rwandan media reported on Sunday that the country’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the departure of diplomats from the DRC’s capital, but stressed that the move was spurred by security concerns amid mounting tensions in the country.
“In diplomatic language, this is not a ‘communiqué’ but a ‘note verbale,’ which was sent to [the Rwandan Embassy in the DRC] while the last Rwandan diplomat stationed in Kinshasa, under permanent threat from Congolese officials, had already left the Congolese capital,” Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said, as cited by ChimpReports.
The UN said on Saturday that it was relocating its administrative staff from the city due to the deteriorating security situation and intensifying hostilities involving M23. The organization noted that nearly 400,000 people have been displaced in North and South Kivu this year due to the resurgence of the armed groups.
