Rwanda, Uganda deny clashes between their soldiers

At least 38 soldiers were killed when Ugandan and Rwandan troops, deployed to fight alongside DRC rebels, turned on each other, the independent Ugandan ‘Monitor’ newspaper reported yesterday. It cited a senior Ugandan military officer who said fighting broke out between the two sides after they disagreed on which rebel group to support. According to the officer, the Ugandans appear to be backing the Mouvement de liberation congolais (MLC) of Jean-Pierre Bemba which is active in Equateur province, while the Rwandans support the mainstream Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD). “The RCD is nothing on the ground. They were just handpicked by Kigali after their planned coup against Kabila failed,” the officer said, according to the ‘Monitor’. “When you go areas where Bemba operates, you see some signs of real insurrection by the Congolese people themselves”. He did not say when or where the clashes occurred. Ugandan Defence Minister Steven Kauma however denied the clash report, AFP said. He claimed they were untrue and “just aimed at souring relations” between the Ugandan and Rwandan armies. Rwanda today (Monday) also rejected the report, which alleged 30 of the dead soldiers were Rwandan. “Our soldiers never fought against Ugandan soldiers, even with their fists,” said army spokesman Major Emmanuel Ndahiro, according to AFP. He admitted however there had been “disagreements” over how to handle the DRC war.