UN report: Rwanda has command over M23 rebels in eastern Congo

A UN report claims Rwanda has been providing military support and training to M23 rebels in eastern Congo, gaining political influence and access to mineral-rich areas, despite Rwanda's denials.

A confidential UN report has accused Rwanda of directly supporting the M23 rebels in eastern Congo, providing them with military training and advanced equipment that has given them a tactical edge over Congo's army. The report claims that Rwanda has trained M23 recruits at its Gabiro Training Centre and other military sites, while also deploying thousands of troops in Congo's North and South Kivu provinces.

M23's capture of Goma and Bukavu earlier this year raised concerns of a wider regional conflict. The report suggests Rwanda's military involvement is focused on gaining control of additional territories, particularly mineral-rich regions, rather than solely addressing threats from the FDLR, a Hutu militia group linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Rwanda has long denied these allegations, framing its involvement as self-defense against the FDLR. A spokesperson for Rwanda responded, stating that the UN report misrepresents the country's security concerns and that Rwanda is committed to implementing a peace agreement signed with Congo in Washington, which aims to neutralize the FDLR and lift defensive measures along the border.

The UN experts also reported a missile attack on a UN peacekeeper vehicle in January, likely fired from a Rwandan military position. Rwanda has been accused of violating an arms embargo, with estimates placing 1,000 to 1,500 of its troops still active in M23-held territory.

Despite these tensions, the US has been brokering peace talks between Rwanda and Congo, with both countries signing a peace deal in Washington last week. U.S. President Donald Trump warned of severe penalties if the agreement is violated, while Qatar is hosting parallel mediation efforts.

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