Kigali's UN ambassador Eugene-Richard Gasana. Rwanda and DR Congo have clashed over renewed UN sanctions. AFP
By AFP
The UN Security Council on Thursday renewed a
sanctions regime against Democratic Republic of Congo in a vote that
sparked a furious row between Congo and Rwanda.
The council backed a sanctions committee report
which says the M23 rebel group is recruiting in Rwanda despite its
military defeat and that its leaders are moving freely in Uganda.
Rwanda, as a temporary member of the 15-nation
Security Council, voted for resolution 2136 but then lashed out at the
sanctions report and DR Congo.
Kigali's UN ambassador Eugene-Richard Gasana
called the sanctions committee report "baseless" and said his DR Congo
counterpart was a "cry baby" always complaining to the council about
Rwanda.
DR Congo's ambassador Ignace Gata Mativa said the
sanctions experts had clearly shown "grave violations" by Rwanda and
Uganda by aiding "destabilisation" in eastern DR Congo.
"Such an attitude constitutes an act of aggression that the Security Council must record and condemn," Mr Gata added.
"Dear friend, it is time to stop acting like a cry
baby each time, each time to come here and hit out at Rwanda," Mr
Gasana responded.
M23 launched an uprising against the DR Congo
government in 2012 and briefly occupied the key city of Goma before it
was defeated by government forces late last year. It is one of a host of
groups that have brought strife to eastern DR Congo over the past two
decades.
UN experts have repeatedly said Rwanda and Uganda support the rebels. The two countries deny any role in the uprising.
Mr Gasana repeated accusations that the experts are "unprofessional" and that their work threatens peace efforts.
The council resolution renewed the mandate of the experts and expressed "full support" for their work, however.
'Critical step'
The council expressed "strong condemnation" of
"internal or external support to armed groups active in the region,
including through financial, logistical and military support." But it
did not mention Rwanda or any alleged backing for M23.
The resolution did highlight "deep concern" over
accusations in the sanctions report that DR Congo forces had been in
"collaboration" with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda,
which includes some fighters who took part in Rwanda's 1994 genocide.
The Security Council ordered that individuals and
entities arming DR Congo groups "through illicit trade of natural
resources, including gold or wildlife as well as wildlife products"
should be included on the sanctions list.
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