The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) plans to formally request information from Uganda regarding allegations of Kampala’s support for M23 rebels in the mineral-rich eastern region of the DRC.
DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayiwamba expressed deep concern over a United Nations report claiming that the Ugandan military (UPDF) aided the M23 rebellion in North Kivu. “We will raise the issue on a diplomatic level,” stated Minister Kayiwamba during a press briefing in Kinshasa on Monday.
These accusations threaten the previously warm relations between the DRC and Uganda. Congolese lawmakers have called for severing diplomatic ties with Uganda over the alleged support for M23. Meanwhile, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has been a strong ally in Uganda’s fight against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorists in North Kivu and Ituri.
Despite the tension, the DRC remains a key trading partner for Uganda. In 2022, Uganda’s Trade Minister Francis Mwebesa highlighted that trade between the two nations had grown from $479.17 million in 2016 to $687.1 million in 2021.
The uproar among Congolese officials stems from a June 2024 report by the United Nations Group of Experts. The report indicated that Uganda had not prevented the presence of M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) troops on its territory, even during the takeover of Bunagana by M23 in June 2022.
The UN report detailed the movement of M23 and RDF troops and military supplies through Uganda, contradicting the Ugandan government’s claims of no foreign troop presence since the M23 crisis began. It cited evidence from interviews, satellite data, and intelligence sources confirming active support for M23 by certain UPDF and military intelligence officials.
Uganda has denied these allegations, with Deputy Army spokesperson Col Deo Akiiki calling the reports “baseless” and “biased.” Akiiki emphasized the UPDF’s cooperation with Congolese forces (FARDC) in combating negative forces like the ADF and maintaining regional peace.
However, the UN report highlighted the presence of Ugandan military intelligence officers coordinating with M23 leaders and transporting them to controlled areas. It also noted that M23 leaders violated travel bans by traveling to Entebbe and Kampala, where they held meetings with representatives of Congolese armed groups.
As diplomatic tensions rise, the DRC’s move to formally seek clarification from Uganda could significantly impact the relations and stability in the region.
