The DR Congo Armed Forces (FARDC) Chief of General Staff, Gen. Célestin Mbala Munsense, on Wednesday, November 10, began an official visit to Rwanda where he is holding discussions centered on the regional security situation and the fight against terrorist groups, with his Rwandan counterparts.

Gen Mbala and his delegation on Wednesday held bilateral discussions with the Rwanda Defence Force Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Jean-Bosco Kazura at RDF Headquarters, Kimihurura.  

"Our delegation is here to discuss a framework of plans established with our neighboring countries in dealing with terrorist groups and other transnational threats. This conforms with recommendations from the African Union to combine effort in fighting threats that hinder our collective development,” Gen Mbala said.

Gen Mbala added that the discussions also looked at mutual efforts to prevent negative forces operating "along our borders in a bid to strengthen our relationships towards the mutual development of our people.”

Gen Mbala’s visit comes two days after an armed group believed to be ex-M23 rebels, on November 7, crossed into DR Congo  "from Ugandan territory where it is based, and attacked and occupied the villages of Tshanzu and Runyoni,” according to the RDF.

The RDF said that any reports, in the media or by officials in the region, that the ex-M23 armed group originated from or retreated to Rwanda, is propaganda aimed at undermining the good relations between Rwanda and DRC.

On the allegations that M23 elements conducted an attack on DR Congo territory from Rwanda and Uganda, Gen Mbala said: "We have opted to give time to the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) to do its work and give us precisions on the situation.”

DR Congo Armed Forces (FARDC) Chief of General Staff, Gen. Célestin Mbala Munsense at RDF Headquarters, Kimihurura.

The two villages, Tshanzu and Runyoni, were the last redoubts of the M23 before they were chased by Congolese and UN forces into Uganda and Rwanda, in 2013.

Why is Uganda using a proxy force to disturb a neighbor’s peace?

Earlier, on Monday, sections of Ugandan media had reported that the M23 elements that attacked the two Congolese villages were from Rwanda. 

Eric Ndushabandi, professor of political science at the University of Rwanda, on Wednesday told The New Times that by blaming Rwanda, elements in Uganda intended to disturb Rwanda’s security, among others.

They also aimed at, he said, undermining Rwanda’s position in the region and Africa by tarnishing its image, "the same approach usually used by opponents.”

Ndushabandi, who is also the Director of the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace, a Rwandan think-tank, explained that "there is also a particular agenda to derail the good relations between Rwanda and DR Congo.

"Rwanda is expanding its contribution to peace across Africa and has no interest supporting an armed group in DR Congo, a friendly neighbour."

Rwanda and DR Congo delegations pose for a group photo after the meeting.

"Which is not the case today when DR Congo and partners destroyed many of these groups’ positions. I don’t see any reason for Rwanda to be engaged in such businesses (supporting armed groups against DR Congo).”

In 2019, the Congolese army stepped up an offensive against Rwandan terror groups in an ongoing effort to rout all foreign armed militias based in the neighbouring country.

DR Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi vowed to deal with the problem of insecurity in his country, especially in the east where a myriad of militia are wreaking havoc. 

In March 2013, fighting between two DR Congo rebel factions of M23 broke out. One group led by Gen. Sultani Makenga caused 718 fighters led by ex-political leader Jean-Marie Runiga to flee to Rwanda.

The Democratic Republic of Congo Armed Forces (FARDC) Chief of General Staff, Gen Célestin Mbala Munsense arrives at RDF Headquarters on an official visit to Rwanda on November 10, 2021.

Upon arrival in Rwanda, Runiga’s group was disarmed and secured at Gasizi and Kabuhanga hills in Rubavu District along the Rwanda-DR Congo border.

Two weeks after, the group was moved farther away from the Rwanda-DR Congo border, to Ngoma district in Eastern Province.

Ndushabandi noted that Runiga’s faction was accommodated far away from the DR Congo border as necessitated by international law and were not able to cross the border.

"Looking at the management of refugee camps in Rwanda, there is less probability of having those M23 agents circulating freely in Rwanda and cross borders,” Ndushabandi said.

"Former M23 are circulating inside Uganda, even in eastern Congo. But Rwanda's borders are generally well controlled which is not the case between Congo and Uganda, with the porosity of borders.”