DRC: the M23 refutes the conclusions of the United Nations report
This aerial photograph taken on April 1, 2022 shows Mount Sabyinyo, a hideout of the M23/ARC armed group, which marks the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.
AFP - ALEXIS HUGUET
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
The M23 refutes the conclusions of the UN report published Thursday, August 4, namely that the rebel movement received support from the Rwandan army on Congolese soil, from November to June.
The details of Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesman for the political branch of the armed group.
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Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesman for the political wing of the armed group, believes that this is manipulation on the part of the United Nations while the UN mission in Congo, Monusco, is weakened in the DRC.
He was joined by
Claire Fages
, from RFI's Africa editorial staff.
“
On June 14, 2022, when the report of the United Nations experts came out, there was no mention anywhere with proof of the involvement of Rwanda alongside the M23.
How, after a few days, weeks, we manage to fraudulently insert certain additions to wink at the Congolese government to appease the anger of the demonstrators and to overshadow the situation in Kasindi where many of our compatriots have been injured, and to other dead under the bullets of the United Nations.
»
RFI: So you refute the conclusions of this report?
“
Yes, we totally refute them, it's something that is done in haste, when we start to push back certain members of MONUSCO, (to) expel them from the country;
and at the same time let's not forget that the Congolese government itself monetizes a certain lobbyist so that the situation turns in its favor.
»
The M23 refutes the conclusions of the
RD CONGO / RWANDA report _Son SOIR M23 reaction to the UN report on Rwandan armed support 3h
According to Lawrence Kanyuka, the M23 serves as a scapegoat for the Congolese authorities before the elections.
He is waiting for the government to come to Bunagana to hold negotiations there, after the failure of the ceasefire in April.
“
We are not fighting to conquer spaces.
We signed a unilateral ceasefire on April 1 of this year, but the Congolese government attacks us every day.
We are defending ourselves, and if the government wants it, all they have to do is come, they know where to find us, we will talk to Bunagana.
As for the question of whether we are going to liberate the town of Bunagana, it is a town in the DRC and we are Congolese, some of us were born there, our parents are there, so we are not going to liberate it , to go where ? It's a Congolese town, if the Congolese government wants to talk, all they have to do is come to Bunagana.
(We are presented) as the scapegoat because there are elections coming up; we are going to create chaos, everything will be in the name of Rwanda, everything will be in the name of the M23, so they are the bad ones, that is why there were no elections, we are going to see the shifts… All these stories tell us know them and we do not want to be the scapegoat, we are ready to work with everyone to bring peace and security to our country
.”
The M23 awaits negotiations
62 - RD CONGO / RWANDA _Son MATIN M23 awaits negotiations in Bunagana
Congolese at the Bunagana border post when the M23 arrived on June 7, 2022. © BADRU KATUMBA/AFP
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