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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 24080, member: 2262"] Rwanda Rejects SADC Claims of Military Action in Eastern Congo. Rwanda issued a strong response Sunday after southern African leaders accused its forces of attacking troops and civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Harare condemned recent attacks by M23 rebels and Rwandan forces on Congolese troops and SADC peacekeepers. The attacks violated a July 2024 ceasefire agreement, SADC leaders said in their final statement. Rwanda's Foreign Ministry denied the accusations. It claimed SADC forces had joined a coalition planning to attack Rwanda and overthrow President Paul Kagame's government. The ministry said SADC troops were "fighting citizens of that country and effectively bringing war to Rwanda." The conflict escalated after M23 rebels captured Goma, eastern Congo's largest city. Several SADC peacekeepers from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania died in battles with M23 forces. SADC leaders called for defense ministers to ensure their troops' safety and retrieve fallen soldiers. They urged immediate talks between SADC and the East African Community to address the crisis. The summit backed ongoing peace efforts led by Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. It asked political leaders to support dialogue through existing peace processes. Rwanda said it supports finding a political solution. The country welcomed plans for joint talks between East African and Southern African leaders. The SADC peacekeeping mission includes troops from multiple southern African nations. Its mandate is to stop armed groups and bring stability to eastern Congo. [/QUOTE]

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