Rwanda regrets expulsion of ambassador from DRC

Rwanda Sunday expressed regret after neighbor Republic Democratic of Congo, DRC, expelled its ambassador Vincent Karega over alleged support for M23 rebel group.

“It is unfortunate that the DRC government continues to blame Rwanda for its own governance and security failures,” the spokesman for the Rwandan government said in a statement.

Rwanda “remains committed to contributing to a lasting and peaceful regional security solution within the agreed regional frameworks, including the Luanda Roadmap and the Nairobi Process”, the statement added.

Rwanda also said its forces at the border of with the DRC are put on high alert.

Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi held a high security meeting on Saturday and ordered the expulsion of ambassador Vincent Karega.

The meeting came following the seizure of several localities by M23 rebels at the frontline over the week-end. The rebels took control of the coasts of Kiwanja and Rutshuru more than four months after taking the town of Bunagana on the border with Uganda, Anadolu news agency reports.

Kinshasa has been accusing Kigali of support for the rebels but Rwandan authorities have repeatedly slammed the charges. The regime of President Paul Kagame also blames DRC for collusion with the Rwandan Hutu rebels of the FDLR, based in eastern Congo for nearly 30 years.