The Government of Rwanda has rejected allegations by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) was involved in the killing of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said OHCHR’s claims — that the RDF “aided” in the killing of 319 civilians on farms in eastern DRC — were made without evidence, corroboration, or reported motives.
“The gratuitous inclusion of the RDF in these allegations is unacceptable and brings into question the credibility of OHCHR and its methodology,” the statement read.
The Rwandan government also criticised the context of the allegations, pointing out that the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has long failed to protect civilians from insecurity. According to the statement, OHCHR’s “sensational” claims risk undermining ongoing peace efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern Congo.
The latest exchange comes amid heightened tensions in the Great Lakes region, where Rwanda has consistently denied any role in destabilising its neighbour, accusing international agencies of bias and selective reporting.
