Gathered in an extraordinary session, the members of the political bureau of Joseph Kabila’s platform accused the current power of complicity with the aggressor countries.
The resurgence of the M23 rebellion comes, according to the FCC press release, after negotiations with its leaders under the facilitation of Rwanda, in October 2019, to ensure the repatriation, amnesty as well as the military and political integration of the elements of this armed group. The FCC, the statement continues, calls on the Congolese people to stand up as one to denounce acts that border on complicity.
National deputy Marie-Ange Mushobewa, member of the FCC’s political bureau and crisis committee, explains the coalition’s point of view.
The FCC denounces the chaotic, irresponsible and visionless governance of President Tshisekedi and his government, governance of which this war is the sad consequence. The FCC demands from President Tshisekedi and his government clear explanations of the military and economic agreements signed with Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. The acts of the government border on complicity with the enemies of our nation and the actors of the balkanization of the Democratic Republic of Congo […] At no time did Joseph Kabila conclude a secret agreement with these countries.
Two captured Rwandan soldiers
Meanwhile, the Congolese authorities are toughening up the charges against Rwanda, notes our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa. The country of Paul Kagame, according to officials in the province of North Kivu, does not limit itself to supporting the rebels of the M23 struggling with the Congolese armed forces in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; its troops are actively operating on Congolese territory. To support these accusations, the authorities presented to the media two soldiers captured on Saturday, May 28.
According to General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesman for the military governor of North Kivu province, the two Rwandan soldiers were taken by villagers from Bihumba in Rutshuru territory more than 20 kilometers from the Rwandan border. The military spokesman said the two men admitted to being deployed on Congolese territory on Wednesday with the aim of attacking the strategic camp of Rumangabo.
The fighting was intense. In their debacle, continues the Congolese official, the two Rwandan soldiers got lost before being captured by villagers.
For its part, the Rwandan army indicates in a statement that its two soldiers were kidnapped by the FDLR, a Rwandan rebel group based in the DRC and considered genocidal by Kigali. Still according to Rwanda, these soldiers were kidnapped during a joint attack by Congolese forces and the FDLR on a patrol of Rwandan soldiers along the border. Kigali is now asking for their release.
And the Congolese Protestant Church is calling for public trials against the two detainees. It encourages the government to consider severing diplomatic relations with Rwanda.