The United Nations (UN) says Ugandan army has provided support to the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as escalating clashes in the region fuel tension.
In the allegation contained in a report on Monday, UN said it had obtained evidence confirming active support for M23 by officials from the military and military intelligence, with M23 leaders, including the sanctioned Sultani Makenga, travelling to Uganda for meetings.
“Since the resurgence of the M23 crisis, Uganda has not prevented the presence of M23 and Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) troops on its territory or passage through it,” the UN Security Council’s Group of Experts said in the report, which was sent to the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee at the end of April and then to members of the Security Council in June.
Uganda however denies involvement, saying it is instead cooperating closely with the Congolese government forces.
Heritage Times HT reports that the UN has long accused Rwanda of backing the M23, which has repeatedly seized large parts of mineral-rich eastern Congo, allegations Rwanda denied.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo will pause its withdrawal, the government and mission have said.
Uganda and Rwanda in 1996 and 1998 invaded DRC for what they said was defence against local militia groups.
Uganda is still conducting joint operations with Congolese troops against a rebel Ugandan group.
The Tutsi-led M23 rebels have been waging a fresh insurgency in Congo’s militia-plagued east since 2022.
Ugandan troops were part of a regional force deployed in November 2022 to monitor a ceasefire with the M23.
Congolese authorities called for the force to withdraw last year, saying it was ineffective.
According Reuters report, when contacted, the deputy spokesman for Uganda’s armed forces, Deo Akiiki, said such reports falsely accused the east African country’s army when its relationship with the Congolese forces (FARDC) is at its best.
“It would be mad for us to destabilise the same area we are sacrificing it all to have it stable,” Akiiki said.
