Uganda denies DRC charges of “collusion” with anti-Rwandan forces

Uganda has denied allegations by the DRC that it is hosting “anti-Rwandan forces”. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Uganda’s UN representative Fred Beyendeza also denied claims by his DRC counterpart, Ileka Atoki, that Uganda and Rwanda were in conflict with each other. “The incursions into Rwanda of Rwandan oppositionists from Ugandan territory [are] with the collusion of the Ugandan authorities themselves,” Atoki charged. “These incursions are part of the fierce conflict between Rwanda and Uganda, as revealed by the three wars in Kisangani.” In his response, Beyendeza said that “the Uganda Government wishes to state clearly that Uganda harbours no Rwandan ‘oppositionists’ on its territory and there is no collusion of the Ugandan authorities. Furthermore, there is no conflict between Uganda and Rwanda. Uganda, therefore, wishes to dismiss these unfounded allegations [...] with the contempt they deserve. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is urged to seriously address the issues involved rather than look for scapegoats.”