VILLAGE URUGWIRO - The British Minister for Africa, Asia and the United Nations, Lord Malloch-Brown, has refuted allegations that Rwanda is supporting DR Congo rebel movement, the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP).

Speaking to journalists after a lengthy meeting with President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro Village Thursday, Malloch-Brown said that his government  rejected any suggestions that CNDP is being assisted by Rwanda.

"We completely reject allegations that CNDP is a Rwandan force. CNDP is a reactionary force, it has been created by internal issues in that country,” the minister said.

He pointed out that among such internal issues included the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) which has caused insecurity in the region and the rise of Nkunda.

The FDLR are remnants of those responsible for the Rwandan Genocide in 1994. Their escape to the  DRC provided them with shelter to reorganize and terrorise Congolese ethnic Tutsi in the eastern part of the vast country. 

The FDLR have also joined the ranks and file of the Congolese government forces and are united in fighting against Nkunda.

Malloch said that Britain welcomed the recent peace negotiations to be mediated by former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo.

"The involvement of the African Union, UN and Obasanjo’s mediation are critical to have peace in Eastern Congo. But there’s also need to find the right political or military strategy for the final dismantling of the FDLR in Congo.”

He described his meeting with Kagame as "extremely good” and that they discussed events happening in the region and Rwanda’s continued development success.

Malloch-Brown added that he has followed Rwanda’s recovery for a long-while and that Britain’s partnership with Rwanda was very strong

"Britain will partner with Rwanda in finding a process to ensure peace in Eastern Congo,” he said.

The meeting was attended by the British Ambassador to Rwanda, Nick Cannon, Foreign affairs minister Rosemary Museminali and Joseph Mutaboba, President Kagame’s Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region.

Museminari said the British minister also sympathized with Rwanda over the recent arrest in Germany of the chief of State Protocol, Rose Kabuye , and added that Malloch questioned the principle of universal jurisdiction which was unfairly used against Kabuye.

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