Uganda has once again denied United Nations allegations that it is supporting M23 rebels in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, following Kinshasa’s summoning of the Ugandan charge d’affaires over the matter.
Since late 2021, the M23 rebel group has taken control of significant portions of North Kivu province.
A recent report commissioned by the U.N. Security Council accuses Ugandan military and intelligence officials of providing “active support” to the rebels.
After being summoned for discussions with Congolese Deputy Foreign Minister Gracia Yamba Kazadi, Uganda’s charge d’affaires, Matata Twaha Magara, on Friday refuted claims that his country was assisting the M23 group.
Magara stated, “Our stance has always been that within the East African community, we must collaborate to eliminate all the negative forces causing disruptions.”
Magara pointed to the joint operation in eastern DRC by Congolese and Ugandan forces against ADF rebels affiliated with the Islamic State.
Originally composed mainly of Muslim Ugandan rebels, the ADF has established a strong presence in eastern DRC over the past three decades, causing the deaths of thousands of civilians.
Magara asserted that Kazadi “contacted me to discuss matters concerning our bilateral relations and to understand the current situation”.
He added, “I assured her that our bilateral relations are friendly,” and mentioned that Kampala is still “awaiting the official communication from the U.N. office” to address the allegations.
“The U.N. should first provide the concerned countries with the report so they can respond to the accusations,” he stated.
The report released on July 8 detailed that U.N. experts had verified evidence of “active support” for M23 from Ugandan intelligence officials.
According to the report, 3,000 to 4,000 Rwandan soldiers were fighting alongside M23 rebels in the mineral-rich eastern region, leading to the displacement of millions.
The report also alleged that Kigali had “de facto control” over the group’s operations, a claim which Rwanda refutes.
The specialists also revealed evidence indicating “active support for M23 from certain officials within the UPDF [Uganda People’s Defense Forces] and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence.”
A couple of days after, Deo Akiiki, Uganda’s deputy defense spokesperson, dismissed the allegations against Kampala as “laughable, baseless, and illogical” in a statement to AFP.
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