{UAH} Rwanda Demands US To Produce M23 Evidence
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Produce evidence on M23 rebels, Rwanda tells the US
Posted Friday, July 26 2013 at 01:00
Kampala- A Rwandan official yesterday asked the US government to adduce evidence about claims that Kigali has continued to support M23, the Congolese rebel group that has been fighting to overthrow the Kinshasa government.
The Rwandan Ambassador in Uganda, Maj Gen Frank Mugambagye, said the US warning to Rwanda on Wednesday to stop supporting M23 was based on rumours.
"What they have failed to find and will never find is evidence that we support M23 rebels. We have never supported M23 and we will never," he said.
"Anybody who claims Rwanda supports M23 should bring evidence not hearsay. Human Rights Watch says Rwandan soldiers, who returned from the peacekeeping mission in Somalia were deployed in Congo. Rwanda has never been in Somalia," Maj Gen Mugambagye said.
The US State Department spokeswoman, Ms Jen Psaki, had said Rwanda should stop supporting the rebels and withdraw its military personnel from Congo.
Her country was yesterday evening expected to issue a statement on the security situation in DR Congo.
Rebel claims
Meanwhile, a Rwandan refugee claiming to be a Rwandan army deserter, Capt Vedaste Rusanganwa, has claimed he was sent to DR Congo to fight along M23.
"I was an intelligence officer and we were sent to DR Congo but I abandoned the war after internal wrangles within the Movement," he said.
Capt Rusanganwa claims they are being trailed and harassed by the Kigali regime.
Another refugee, Mr Pascal Manirakiza, said he was a former student from CEPEM Secondary School in Ruhengeri but was abducted from Rwanda and conscripted into M23 ranks.
But Gen Mugambagye dismissed the claims, saying the two are using M23 to get refugee status.
Eastern DR Congo has remained a safe haven for many rebel groups including Uganda's Allied Democratic Forces.
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