The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have reported that at least 50 civilians were killed last Tuesday by the M23 in Rutshuru, in the east of the country, denouncing a violation of the ceasefire by the «Rwandan Army and its auxiliaries».
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has accused the Rwandan Defense Forces and the M23 of carrying out «massacres of innocent and defenseless civilians» in the town of Rutshuru, in the province of North Kivu, it said in a statement.
In addition to those killed, other civilians are unaccounted for or abducted by «the horde of terrorists» of the M23 «with the blessing of the Rwandan Army», a fact that the country’s Army has condemned.
Meanwhile, it has announced that during the day of Thursday the M23 and the Rwandan Armed Forces have attacked their positions in Kalima, in the east of the country and near the border with Rwanda.
«The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo inform the national and international opinion that (…) the Rwandan Army and its supporters of the M23 terrorists attacked, on Thursday, December 1, the positions of the FARDC of the Infantry Regiment in Kalima», wields the missive of the Army of the DRC.
«This offensive launched by the Rwandan Defense Forces is a clear demonstration of the bellicose intentions of the Kigali government, which is determined to sabotage the decisions of the heads of state of the sub-region, as well as the initiatives of the African Union (AU), the East African states and the international community for the return of peace and security in the eastern part of the DRC», it added.
In this regard, the DRC has maintained that no withdrawal of Rwandan forces and «terrorists» of the M23 has been observed, but rather a reinforcement of troops.
«Faced with this situation, the FARDC is obliged to respond to all attacks and to do everything possible to protect the Congolese population from the barbarity of the Rwandan army working under the label of the M23 terrorists,» explained the DRC, underlining its readiness to «respect the resolutions» reached by the two parties.
In the framework of a summit in the Angolan capital, Luanda, to advance the normalization of diplomatic relations, DRC and Rwanda agreed on a cease-fire last Friday, as well as a withdrawal of M23 from the recently conquered areas in the province.
The new round of talks in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, which kicked off on Monday, comes after the rebel group said it accepts in principle the agreement for a cessation of hostilities in North Kivu province, although it warned that it reserves any right to respond to any attack.
