By Ebi Kesiena
Rwanda government has noted that it is reinforcing defensive and preventive mechanisms to guard against violations of the country’s airspace and borders, given its legitimate security concerns triggered by DR Congo’s deliberate defiance of regional peace processes.
This was revealed in a statement issued by the Office of the Government Spokesperson on Monday.
The statement further echoed that DR Congo has opted for continued military escalation in recent months.
In the context of increasingly bellicose statements by DR Congo’s civilian and military leaders, the country is also deploying new hardware capabilities and foreign mercenaries in the common border area, the statement noted.
The communique also touched on the repeated failure by the international community to condemn the DR Congo government for the preservation of the FDLR, citing that it encourages the latter to continue arming and fighting alongside this genocidal militia, which has conducted cross-border attacks in Rwanda while embedded with the Congolese army (FARDC).
This constitutes a direct and serious threat to Rwanda’s security, the statement read in part.
“These contingencies are ready to act to prevent any cross-border threat, proportionately to its magnitude, origin, and nature.”
“We will not allow any spill-over into Rwanda from any armed group, and total security for our territory and our people will be ensured.”
Also, Rwanda says it hails the outcomes of the recent meetings held during the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, on the situation in Eastern DR Congo.
“As implementation of the decisions of the Nairobi and Luanda processes commences, Rwanda has confidence in the role of East Africa Community Regional Force in supervising ongoing actions, including the withdrawal of M23.”
Much as Rwanda has always worked within regional frameworks to contribute to stability in the region, the statement noted that the country cannot accept for its security concerns to be trivialized and ignored.
