KAMPALA (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Rwanda
and Great Lakes neighbours on Tuesday to stop supporting Congolese
rebels as regional leaders met in Uganda to discuss ways to end the
insurgency in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (center R) embraces African Union Chariperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma after they met at Brynterion Estate in Pretoria August 7, 2012. RETUERS/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool.
Clinton’s call, made in South Africa during her latest stop on an African tour, maintained international pressure on Rwanda and Uganda to withdraw any backing for the Tutsi-led M23 rebels, whose advances have thrown the volatile, ethnically-mixed east of Congo back into conflict, displacing thousands of civilians.
The Rwandan government has strenuously denied allegations by U.N. experts that its military officials have provided equipment and recruits for the M23 rebellion. Uganda has also rejected similar allegations that its soldiers have backed the movement.
Clinton, speaking at a news conference in Pretoria, praised a two-day meeting of Great Lakes region heads of state held in the Ugandan capital Kampala this week to discuss solutions to the Congo crisis. They could include the creation of a neutral international military force to fight Congolese rebels.
“We urge all the states of the region including Rwanda to work together to cut off support for the rebels in the M23, to disarm them and bring their leaders to justice,” Clinton said.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (center R) embraces African Union Chariperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma after they met at Brynterion Estate in Pretoria August 7, 2012. RETUERS/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool.
Clinton’s call, made in South Africa during her latest stop on an African tour, maintained international pressure on Rwanda and Uganda to withdraw any backing for the Tutsi-led M23 rebels, whose advances have thrown the volatile, ethnically-mixed east of Congo back into conflict, displacing thousands of civilians.
The Rwandan government has strenuously denied allegations by U.N. experts that its military officials have provided equipment and recruits for the M23 rebellion. Uganda has also rejected similar allegations that its soldiers have backed the movement.
Clinton, speaking at a news conference in Pretoria, praised a two-day meeting of Great Lakes region heads of state held in the Ugandan capital Kampala this week to discuss solutions to the Congo crisis. They could include the creation of a neutral international military force to fight Congolese rebels.
“We urge all the states of the region including Rwanda to work together to cut off support for the rebels in the M23, to disarm them and bring their leaders to justice,” Clinton said.
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