The United States accuses Rwanda of a deadly attack on a camp for displaced people in the DRC

“This attack caused the death of at least 9 people and injured at least 33 others, including many women and children,” according to a spokesperson for the US State Department. Rwanda reacted to this accusation by calling it “ridiculous” and “absurd”.

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A refugee camp for people displaced by war, April 17, 2024, near a front line on the western outskirts of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.  (ALEXIS HUGUET / AFP)

American diplomacy has accused Rwanda of being behind a bombing on a camp for displaced people in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo which left at least nine dead on Friday May 3, an assertion refuted by Kigali. “The United States strongly condemns today’s attack on Rwandan armed forces and M23 positions on the Mugunga IDP camp,” said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement on Friday, May 3.

“This attack caused the death of at least 9 people and injured at least 33 others, including many women and children”, he continues. He added that the United States is “deeply concerned about recent progress” of the armed forces of Rwanda and the M23 movement in eastern DRC, “which contributed to the displacement of more than 2.5 million people”. The United States has long asserted, like Kinshasa, that the M23 rebellion is supported by Rwanda. But Washington’s accusation of direct involvement by Kigali is unusual. “It is essential that all States respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”adds the press release.

Rwanda reacted to this accusation on Saturday by describing it as “ridiculous” and D’“absurd”. “How do you arrive at this absurd conclusion? FDR [forces armées rwandaises]a professional army, would never attack a camp” displaced people, said on the social network Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo described the accusation as “ridiculous”.


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