Rwanda's Foreign Minister, Gen. James Kabarebe, told the European Union that fighting in Congo poses a serious safety threat to Rwanda.
He met with EU Special Envoy Johan Borgstam in Kigali. Kabarebe defended Rwanda's protection of itself and said it is not causing problems in eastern Congo.
These talks happen as tensions grow between countries. Congo says Rwanda gives money and guns to the M23 rebels to steal Congo's minerals. Congo believes Rwanda makes violence worse, forces people from their homes, and creates more suffering in eastern Congo.
The EU and the United States worry about Rwanda's actions. The US recently punished Kabarebe, saying he helped M23.
Kabarebe said these claims are wrong. He thinks Rwanda is being blamed unfairly when it faces real dangers at its borders.
He pointed to groups near Rwanda like FDLR (linked to the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi people), Burundian forces, Wazalendo fighters, SAMIDRC, and European-hired soldiers.
He said these groups close to Rwanda's borders create a "direct threat" to national safety.
The Rwandan official asked for safety promises. He wants all outside-backed forces moved away from borders, M23 issues solved, and FDLR stopped.
He criticized the EU for what he sees as taking sides. He thinks penalties against Rwanda hurt African peace efforts and ignored problems inside Congo like bad government, stealing, and human rights issues.
The EU has not shared what Borgstam said during his meeting with Kabarebe.
But Borgstam recently said he was very worried about eastern Congo, especially new M23 attacks, which the EU believes Rwanda's army supports.
He spoke against the increasing violence. He said it breaks international rules, makes the area less stable, and causes more human suffering.
"The EU is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, aggravated by the renewed offensive of the M23 supported by the Rwandan Armed Forces," Borgstam said during a visit to Uganda.
The EU believes Rwanda's actions violated Congo's land rights, causing many deaths and people to leave their homes.
European officials raise alarms about M23 human rights abuses, including killing people without trial and forcing people from areas it controls.
Because of Rwanda's suspected role, both the EU and the US have taken strong steps. Washington put sanctions on Gen. Kabarebe, saying he plays a key part in helping M23. The EU has also put limits on people and companies tied to Rwanda's mineral business from eastern Congo. European nations stopped military help to Rwanda and increased pressure on Rwanda to stop supporting M23 and join peace efforts.
He met with EU Special Envoy Johan Borgstam in Kigali. Kabarebe defended Rwanda's protection of itself and said it is not causing problems in eastern Congo.
These talks happen as tensions grow between countries. Congo says Rwanda gives money and guns to the M23 rebels to steal Congo's minerals. Congo believes Rwanda makes violence worse, forces people from their homes, and creates more suffering in eastern Congo.
The EU and the United States worry about Rwanda's actions. The US recently punished Kabarebe, saying he helped M23.
Kabarebe said these claims are wrong. He thinks Rwanda is being blamed unfairly when it faces real dangers at its borders.
He pointed to groups near Rwanda like FDLR (linked to the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi people), Burundian forces, Wazalendo fighters, SAMIDRC, and European-hired soldiers.
He said these groups close to Rwanda's borders create a "direct threat" to national safety.
The Rwandan official asked for safety promises. He wants all outside-backed forces moved away from borders, M23 issues solved, and FDLR stopped.
He criticized the EU for what he sees as taking sides. He thinks penalties against Rwanda hurt African peace efforts and ignored problems inside Congo like bad government, stealing, and human rights issues.
The EU has not shared what Borgstam said during his meeting with Kabarebe.
But Borgstam recently said he was very worried about eastern Congo, especially new M23 attacks, which the EU believes Rwanda's army supports.
He spoke against the increasing violence. He said it breaks international rules, makes the area less stable, and causes more human suffering.
"The EU is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, aggravated by the renewed offensive of the M23 supported by the Rwandan Armed Forces," Borgstam said during a visit to Uganda.
The EU believes Rwanda's actions violated Congo's land rights, causing many deaths and people to leave their homes.
European officials raise alarms about M23 human rights abuses, including killing people without trial and forcing people from areas it controls.
Because of Rwanda's suspected role, both the EU and the US have taken strong steps. Washington put sanctions on Gen. Kabarebe, saying he plays a key part in helping M23. The EU has also put limits on people and companies tied to Rwanda's mineral business from eastern Congo. European nations stopped military help to Rwanda and increased pressure on Rwanda to stop supporting M23 and join peace efforts.
