Rwanda condemned Canada for imposing sanctions concerning its support for the M23 rebel group in the DRC conflict. Canadian officials, including Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, labeled Rwanda’s military actions as violations of sovereignty. Rwanda’s foreign ministry criticized Canada’s stance as shameful, asserting it undermines regional peace efforts. The situation escalates following similar punitive measures from the UK and the US toward Rwandan officials.
Rwanda has publicly denounced Canada for imposing sanctions related to its alleged support of the M23 rebel group in the ongoing Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conflict. The conflict has escalated recently, with the M23 gaining significant territorial control in eastern DRC, an advance that UN experts attribute to backing from Rwandan soldiers.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly criticized Rwanda’s military involvement in the DRC and the support for the M23 group. In retaliation, Canada has suspended export permits for certain goods to Rwanda and is reconsidering its participation in future international events in Kigali. Joly condemned Rwanda’s actions as a violation of DRC sovereignty and the United Nations Charter.
In response to Canada’s actions, Rwanda’s foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the sanctions as “shameful” and argued that such measures would not lead to a resolution of the issues at hand. The statement emphasized that Canada cannot simultaneously advocate for peace in the region while attributing all violations to Rwanda.
These sanctions from Canada follow earlier similar actions by the British government, which suspended most bilateral aid to Rwanda in February. Additionally, the United States has recently imposed sanctions on Rwandan Minister for Regional Integration James Kabarebe, accusing him of facilitating support to the M23 group.
In summary, Rwanda has voiced strong objections to Canada’s imposition of sanctions linked to the DRC conflict, asserting that such measures are unjustifiable. As tensions mount, Rwanda’s officials highlight inconsistencies in Canada’s approach to regional peace. This situation continues to develop as international scrutiny increases regarding the ongoing conflict and external involvement.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
