Rwanda denies role in blast at displaced people's camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

By James Tasamba and Byobe Malenga

KIGALI, Rwanda / KINSHASA, DRC (AA) — Rwanda on Sunday denied responsibility for a deadly blast last week at a camp for internally displaced people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a statement, the office of the East African nation’s government spokesperson said earlier remarks by the US blaming Kigali for the attack amounts to “scapegoating.”

“The attempt by the US Department of State to immediately and without any investigation place blame on Rwanda for the loss of lives in the IDP camp, is unjustified.

“Rwanda will not shoulder responsibility for the bombing of the IDP camp around Goma,” a statement by the office of Rwandan government spokesperson said.

It underlined the need for a credible investigation and verification.

“The position taken by the US government raises serious questions about its credibility as a facilitator in the region and undermines its ability to play a constructive role towards a peaceful solution,” the statement added.

The bombing of the Mugunga camp 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from the city of Goma had taken the lives of 15 people, including women and children.

US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said on X Saturday that Washington “strongly condemns the attack on the positions of the Armed Forces of Rwanda and the M23 on the Mugunga camp for internally displaced persons.”

Following the post, Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the allegations of Kigali’s involvement were “absurd.”

“How do you reach this absurd conclusion? The FDR (Rwandan armed forces) is a professional army that would never attack a camp” of displaced people, she said on X.

The DRC accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels who are said to be mainly composed of fighters of Rwandan Tutsi origin. Congolese Tutsi make up some 1-2% of Congo’s population.

The M23 are fighting against the Congolese armed forces in eastern DRC.

Fighting has displaced around a million people in North Kivu, the UN said in December last year.

The rebels are reported to have captured some villages and towns near Goma. Eastern Congo is rich in mineral wealth.

Rwanda denies claims it supports the M23 rebels.