Rwandan President Paul Kagame has vehemently denied allegations that his country is supporting the M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The rebels have been accused of seizing Congolese towns and setting up parallel government administrations to control key mines and trade routes.
Kagame dismissed the findings of a United Nations group of experts, which claimed that Rwandan forces were helping the militia.
“These people fighting did not come from Rwanda,” Kagame said, adding that the bulk of the rebels, including their leaders, are from Uganda.
The conflict in eastern Congo has escalated to a level of violence not seen in over a decade, displacing millions of people and undermining efforts to cut the link between armed groups and the mineral trade.
The M23 rebels claim to be fighting for the rights of Congolese Tutsis and other speakers of the Rwandan language.
Kagame questioned the integrity and motives of the UN experts, accusing them of ignoring violations committed by the Congolese army and police force. He emphasized that the problem can be addressed, but not through manipulation.
The situation remains tense, with at least 3,000 to 4,000 Rwandan troops reportedly deployed in eastern Congo.
