A former German ambassador to Rwanda has challenged a top European Union official on claims about M23 rebels and alleged involvement of Rwanda in the conflict in eastern DR Congo. Peter Fahrenholtz, who was ambassador to Rwanda between 2012 and 2016, reacted to a post by Kaja Kallas, EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group. ALSO READ: Rwanda will not bear burden of DR Congo's failures – Nduhungirehe to EU top diplomat Kallas said, “M23/Rwanda must respect DRC territorial integrity, stop advances and withdraw from occupied territory,” which suggests M23 rebels are not Congolese. Fahrenholtz suggested the grievances of the M23 rebel group and the persecution of Congolese Tutsi were not given enough attention. He also pressed the EU official on DR Congo’s use of European mercenaries in the war against M23. “Are M23 not DRC citizens? Were there not European mercenaries fighting against them in DRC? Who will protect ethnic minorities in eastern DRC?” the retired German ambassador wrote in a post on X. Are M23 not DRC citizens? Were there not European mercenaries fighting against them in DRC? Who will protect ethnic minorities in eastern DRC? https://t.co/OufuwkqNzz — Peter Fahrenholtz, Ambassador rtd (@peterfahren) March 10, 2025 VIDEO: Persecution and cannibalism of Tutsi are 'commonplace' in Congo, says Rwandan minister The group is part of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which is led by DR Congo’s former head of the electoral commission, Corneille Nangaa. It fights for the protection of the Congolese Tutsi community, which has suffered persecution for decades. In the war against the M23 about 2,000 mercenaries from Eastern Europe were hired to fight alongside the Congolese army and its coalition, which includes Burundian troops, SADC forces, the FDLR and local armed groups known as Wazalendo. ALSO READ: Mercenaries in the DRC crisis: What it means legally and ethically Kallas met with Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Olivier Nduhungirehe on Monday, March 10. Rwanda dismisses the allegations that it supports the M23 rebels, pointing to security concerns about collaboration between the Congolese army and FDLR, a militia linked to 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. ALSO READ: European mercenaries surrender to M23, get safe passage through Rwanda “Rwanda’s national security concerns have long been ignored or dismissed, despite the existential threat from the DRC-based/supported FDLR genocidal militia and hostile military forces allied with the Congolese army that were active in our border area,” said Nduhungirehe after his meeting with the EU diplomat. He also highlighted that blaming Rwanda for the crisis in eastern DR Congo would not resolve the conflict. “The unhelpful misreading of the eastern DR Congo crisis and the one-sided measures against Rwanda will not lead to a solution,” Nduhungirehe said.
