Congo summons Rwandan ambassador over alleged support for M23 rebels
28/5/2022 19:49
Democratic Republic of Congo has summoned Rwanda's ambassador and suspended Rwandair flights to Congo in response to what it says is Kigali's support for M23 rebels carrying out a military offensive in eastern Congo. Rwanda denies supporting the rebels, who advanced as close as 20 km this week to eastern Congo's main city of Goma and briefly captured the army's largest base in the area. Congo and U.N. investigators had also accused Kigali of supporting the M23 during a 2012-2013 insurrection that briefly captured Goma. Rwanda denied those charges. Congo's government spokesman Patrick Muyaya announced the suspension of flights from Rwanda's national carrier and the summoning of the ambassador late Friday night following a meeting of the national defence council. He also said Congolese authorities had designated the M23 a terrorist group and would exclude it from on-and-off negotiations being held in Kenya's capital Nairobi between Congo's government and militia groups active in the east.
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