Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) refuted accusations by DR Congo’s armed forces (FARDC) that Rwandan soldiers on Thursday, July 27, crossed the border into North Kivu province. The RDF said the Congolese army had continued to collaborate with the FDLR, a UN sanctioned genocidal group based in eastern DR Congo for close to three decades. Formed by the masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the militia group is at the heart of the insecurity affecting eastern DR Congo and the region. ALSO READ: Rwanda warns against DR Congo’s pretext for attack “The accusations are baseless and part of a long-standing pattern of misinformation and propaganda by the [DR Congo] leadership to divert attention from their internal failures in maintaining peace and security within their own borders, while continuing to support, arm and fight alongside the genocidal militia FDLR,” the RDF said in statement on Friday, July 28. “The RDF notes the continued trend of false accusations and escalation, which may serve as a pretext for a planned attack by the FARDC/FDLR on Rwandan territory.” The FARDC issued a statement on Thursday saying the Rwandan army crossed the shared border “to destabilize and intentionally violate the territorial integrity of [DR Congo]. ALSO READ: New footage suggests FDLR fighting alongside DR Congo army The FARDC’s allegation comes less than 10 days after it said the Rwandan government had issued a statement about a planned attack on DR Congo. That statement, however, was not shown to the media. The Office of the Rwandan Government Spokesperson said there had never been such a statement, adding that FARDC’s accusation served as “a pretext aimed at escalating hostilities and justifying an attack on Rwandan soil.” ALSO READ: DR Congo fighter jet violates Rwanda airspace for third time, shot at Congolese warplanes violated Rwanda’s airspace at least three times since November 2022, in addition to rocket shelling incidents which injured civilians in northern Rwanda. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa urges Tshisekedi to dialogue with rivals The DR Congo-based FDLR has previously launched attacks on Rwandan territory. In the ongoing fight against the M23 rebel group, the Congolese army formed an alliance with multiple militias including the FDLR. The Congolese government accused Rwanda of supporting the M23, allegations Kigali dismissed. Rwanda has called out the Congolese army for collaborating with the FDLR, which threatens Rwanda’s security. ALSO READ: Inside the secret DR Congo-FDLR pact Officially denied by the Congolese army, that FARDC-FDLR alliance has been carefully documented by the Rwandan intelligence services, which have revealed direct contacts between the Congolese political and military authorities and FDLR leaders, including ‘Major General’ Pacifique Ntawunguka, who is under sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council. The FDLR chief of staff Ntawunguka, also known by his wartime moniker, Omega, speaks in person with North Kivu province's military governor, Constant Ndima Kongba, according to Rwanda's intelligence service. ALSO READ: Situation in eastern DR Congo a major human rights challenge – Biruta In a June 19, 2022 telephone call, Omega demanded payment for his fighters to continue supporting the FARDC in Rutshuru territory. The fee he asked for was $300 per soldier from the Commando de Recherche et d'Action en Profondeur, the FDLR's elite unit, led by ‘Colonel’ Ruvugayimikore Ruhinda. Three days later, due to lack of payment, 45 of the soldiers from a company led by ‘Lieutenant’ Noheli Nyiringabo refused to go to the front.
