Rwanda dismisses US sanctions of Rwanda military over M23 as one-sided, regrettable
Rwanda Monday rejected the US sanctions against the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) and four of its senior officials as unfair and one-sided.
In a statement, Kigali said the measures "unjustly targeting only one party to the peace process misrepresent the reality and distort the facts of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo."
The US imposed sanctions on the RDF and four of its senior officials, citing alleged support for the March 23 Movement (M23) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a statement earlier Monday, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the RDF has been "actively supporting, training, and fighting alongside" the M23, which is under US and UN sanctions for alleged human rights abuses and a mass displacement crisis in the DRC.
The US Treasury also accused the RDF of alleged deployment of troops and military equipment into eastern Congo, contributing to the armed group's territorial gains, including the seizure of key cities and mining areas.
But Rwanda said, “Consistent and indiscriminate drone attacks and ground offensives constitute clear violations of ceasefire agreements by the DRC, and continue to cost many lives. Protecting our country is a badge of honour which the Rwanda Defense Force carries very proudly.”
Kigali accused the Congo of not taking any steps to end support to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and associated militias, as committed, in the Washington Accords.
“Rwanda remains committed to delivering on all aspects of the Washington Accords, including the Regional Economic Integration Framework.”
