The US ambassador to the UN accused Rwanda, which is accused of supporting the M23 armed group in the conflict in eastern DR Congo, of taking the region towards war on 15th December.

“Rwanda is taking the region a step backward on the path to peace and towards war instead of advancing toward peace, as we have seen in the last few weeks under the leadership of President Trump,” Mike Waltz told a meeting of the Security Council.

This month, the Congolese and the Rwandan leaders in Washington signed a peace deal at the behest of Trump, which brought back hope that peace may be as close as it can get to the region after 30 years of war.

However, this week, M23 militants took the Congolese city of Uvira, which enabled the militia to control the land border with Burundi and isolate Kinshasa, depriving it of military support from its neighbor.

Rwanda’s providing support

“The Rwandan defense forces have also been involved in material, logistics, and training assistance to M23 as well as engaged in combat alongside M23 in DRC with an approximate of 5,000 to 7,000 soldiers, not to mention potential reinforcement during the most recent offensive,” Waltz said.

He has stated that the Rwandan firepower has involved surface-to-air missiles, drones, and artillery.

This month, M23 initiated its ongoing attack in the South Kivu province on the Burundian border. It took control of the capital cities of Goma and Bukavu in January and February.

Rwanda has denied several times that it is not supporting the M23 armed group and denies rumors that it is in the war in eastern DR Congo.