Tension reported between Ugandan, Rwandan troops in North Kivu

Military sources report increasing tension between Ugandan and Rwandan troops around the North Kivu town of Kanyabayonga over operations against Rwandan Interahamwe militias, largely blamed for the 1994 genocide, and local DRC Mayi-Mayi militias. “The Interahamwe and Mayi-Mayi have been crossing over to Kanyabayonga and then to the areas controlled by Ugandan troops to collect food and sell gold,” Commander Bahati of the Rwanda-backed local defence unit in the area told IRIN. “On the way back they attack us.” Senior Ugandan and Rwandan officials have reportedly held talks on the growing tension.

Rwandan presidential adviser Major Emmanuel Ndahiro said cooperation between the two countries was needed, especially in the “no-man’s land” of Kanyabayonga. “It is in the interests of both countries to work together to defeat these bad elements,” he added. The Ugandan army denied that Interahamwe militias and the Mayi-Mayi were operating in their areas of influence. “If these forces are operating in the areas we control, they are doing it without our knowledge,” Ugandan army spokesman Pheneas Katirima told IRIN on Monday.