Media said Rwanda is ready to invade DRC
The Rwandan army is "ready to invade" the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and help rebels capture the North Kivu provincial capital of Goma. The Guardian reported this on January 25, citing intelligence reports.
"Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) soldiers have secretly crossed the border into eastern DRC over the past few days to support a lightning offensive by the militia. <...> Most senior RDF commanders are reportedly stationed in the Rwandan town of Gisenyi, less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Goma across the border," the publication's piece said.
It noted that "fierce clashes" between detachments of the Rwandan-backed rebel March 23 Movement and the Congolese army were recorded in the region throughout Saturday. The fighting is now taking place almost within the city limits, close to large refugee camps housing more than a million people.
"Thirteen UN peacekeepers were killed in the fighting: nine of the South African peacekeepers, three from the Malawi Defense Force and one Uruguayan member of the UN force," The Guardian quoted The Guardian as saying.
Four other peacekeepers were injured.
Congolese army sources say a major rebel offensive was thwarted tonight. The publication's sources warn that if successful, Rwanda will not stop at Goma and hopes to also capture the town of Bukavu.
The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the situation.
On January 25, Reuters reported about the severing of diplomatic relations between Congo and Rwanda amid the worsening situation in the region.
Earlier, the Democratic Republic of Congo recalled its diplomats from Rwanda and demanded that the country cease diplomatic and consular activities in the Congolese capital Kinshasa within 48 hours. This decision was taken against the backdrop of growing tensions between the two countries
