DR Congo Accuses Rwanda of Illegal Occupation Amid Rising Tensions

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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has accused Rwanda of illegally occupying its territory and seeking to instigate regime change, as tensions continue to escalate. DRC’s Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner made the claims in an interview with the BBC, emphasizing that the situation has persisted due to Rwandan President Paul Kagame's impunity regarding international law violations. The accusations come in the wake of the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group's seizure of the eastern city of Goma and their threats to advance toward the capital, Kinshasa.

Rwanda, however, refuted these allegations through government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo, who asserted that Rwandan forces are deployed to secure their borders against threats of cross-border violence. In a meeting scheduled for Friday, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) plans to discuss the crisis, as it has already mobilized peacekeeping troops from South Africa to address the armed M23 insurgency. Wagner urged for sanctions against Rwanda and a reevaluation of foreign aid, asserting that the country cannot present itself as a peace advocate abroad while engaging in warfare in the Great Lakes region.

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