DRC: the capture of the city of Bunagana by the M23 causes the Western chancelleries to react
Congolese soldiers in the town of Bunagana.
(Illustration) AFP - HABIBOU BANGRE
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In the DRC, the government “
condemns the participation of the Rwandan authorities in supporting, financing and arming
” the M23 rebellion.
Condemnation expressed through a press release issued Tuesday evening by the Congolese Ministry of Communication.
In the aftermath of the capture of the town of Bunagana, the commercial crossroads of North Kivu (east) by the M23 rebels, condemnations multiplied, including in particular from international partners, who also denounced Rwanda's involvement in the eastern Congo.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,
Patient Ligodi
On the military front, Tuesday evening, the army was more optimistic and promised the population a total victory over the M23 and its allies.
In Kinshasa, the government is also active on the diplomatic front.
Meetings have multiplied with various chancelleries, in particular those of member countries of the United Nations Security Council.
The Congolese government talks less and less about the M23, which it qualifies as a terrorist group and accuses Rwanda more.
Again yesterday evening, he “
condemns the participation of the Rwandan authorities in supporting, financing and arming this rebellion
,” the Ministry of Communication and Media said in a statement.
“
We will defend every centimeter of our territory
”, adds the text, released the day after the capture by the M23 rebels of the locality of Bunagana.
A diplomatic deployment that seems to be bearing fruit.
American and European convictions
For the first time yesterday, the US Embassy in Kinshasa openly discussed the presence of Rwandan troops on Congolese soil and condemned "
actions that increase the risk of violence and destruction in eastern Congo and harm all inhabitants of the region
”.
“We are extremely concerned by the recent fighting in eastern DRC and the reported presence of Rwandan forces on DRC territory,” the statement said, “
provocative behavior and inflammatory language must cease
, ” Washington warned.
The day before, the United States Senate Foreign Affairs Committee had also openly denounced Rwanda's support for M23 fighters.
The second condemnation emanates from the European Union, through the voice of Jean-Marc Châtaignier, the EU ambassador to the DRC, who before senior Congolese police officials and an audience of European diplomats, criticized the "
actions national and foreign armed groups
”.
The government is convinced that, as in 2012, this war will not only be fought on the military ground.
He hopes for greater support from the international community for his cause and greater pressure on Rwanda.
Kigali, for its part, denies this information and claims not to provide military support to the M23 rebels.
On the contrary, he believes that he was the victim of multiple “
attacks
”.
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