U.S. Accuses Rwanda of Fueling Congo Conflict, Warns of Regional Escalation
The United States has issued a stark warning at the United Nations Security Council, directly accusing Rwanda of undermining stability in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by supporting the M23 rebel group. American officials stated that Kigali’s alleged actions risk a major escalation and threaten to derail ongoing peace efforts.
The public condemnation marks a significant intensification of diplomatic pressure. The U.S. representative vowed to hold “spoilers to peace” accountable, signaling potential consequences for Rwanda amid a conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians in recent months.
Fighting between the M23—a largely Congolese Tutsi-led militia—and Congolese armed forces, backed by allied groups, has surged. The violence is now spreading dangerously, with clashes edging toward the border with Burundi, raising international fears of a wider regional war.
In response to the escalating crisis, Burundi issued a separate warning, stating that continued attacks near its frontier could trigger a direct military confrontation. Rwanda, however, has flatly denied the U.S. and DRC’s accusations. In a tit-for-tat rebuttal, Kigali accused Burundi of deploying troops into the DRC and committing “aggression” against it.
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo used the Security Council session to issue a forceful appeal, urging the international community to finally act against what it described as “years of impunity” by Rwanda. Kinshasa views the M23’s resurgence as a proxy force serving Rwandan interests, a claim supported by UN expert reports.
The renewed violence and sharp diplomatic exchanges come just weeks after the leaders of the DRC and Rwanda met in Washington and reaffirmed their commitment to a U.S.-brokered peace deal designed to ease tensions. The latest flare-up casts serious doubt on the durability of that agreement and underscores the profound challenges in ending one of Africa’s most intractable and deadly conflicts.
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