By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Indications have emerged that the frosty relations with Rwanda will top agenda as the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken is expected to arrive Democratic Republic of Congo late Tuesday where he will meet with President Felix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa.
Congolese presidency gave the hint on Monday. The DRC is experiencing a resurgence of tensions with neighboring Rwanda, which Kinshasa accuses of supporting the rebels of the “March 23 Movement” (M23), a claim that Kigali denies.
After South Africa, the first stage of Blinken’s tour which began on Sunday will continue this week, in the DRC and in Rwanda.
On Tuesday, Mr. Blinken “will be received in the early evening” by President Tshisekedi who “will not fail to discuss issues of strategic partnership between the DRC and the United States,” said the Congolese presidency in a statement.
“The latest UN experts’ report on the invasion of Rwandan troops transformed into the M23 will not fail to be addressed,” it added.
The March 23 Movement (M23) is a former Tutsi-dominated rebellion that was defeated in 2013 and took up arms again late last year, blaming Kinshasa for failing to respect agreements on the demobilization and reintegration of its fighters.
The report by experts mandated by the Security Council details Rwanda’s direct involvement, “unilaterally or jointly with M23 fighters” in eastern Congo.
Kigali has denied these “invalid allegations” and argued that it has a “right to defend its territory.
Also setting agenda for Blinken, NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW), wants him to use opportunity of his visits to Rwanda and the DRC to”articulate the inconvenient truths”, “publicly condemn the M23 attacks in the strongest terms” and “warn Rwanda of the consequences of its support for M23”.
“As in 2012, M23 is committing war crimes against civilians,” the NGO said, noting that “witnesses have described summary executions of at least 29 people.
