Kagame was tough with the visiting
delegation |
Rwanda
has been told by the United Nations Security Council that the world is
monitoring its actions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it backs
a rebel group that is in violation of a ceasefire.
Security Council ambassadors visited Rwanda as part of a tour of
central Africa, during which they are trying to end the conflict in DR
Congo which is estimated to have cost three million lives over the past
decade.
Rwanda occupied part of eastern DR Congo until last year and several
African states accuse it of still having troops there, though Rwanda
denies this.
The Rwandans say they originally sent troops to DR Congo to stop rebels
that threatened them from bases beyond their border.
They say their soldiers were all pulled out last year, but the DR Congo
Government says Rwanda is still present and illegally exploiting the
mineral riches in the east of the country.
Congo blamed
A Rwandan official, Patrick Mazimhaka, said DR Congo was making excuses
for its own failings.
"It is in their interests. The Congolese must find an external enemy to
justify why they are failing to set up the process they agreed. So that's
why they are doing it," he said.
The UN agrees that several groups are violating the ceasefire in DR
Congo but thinks Rwanda's co-operation is absolutely key to a solution.
But while the Security Council may urge Rwanda to co-operate, it is not
threatening any sanctions to make it act.
And the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, was characteristically tough
with the visiting diplomats.
Referring to the Congolese rebels Rwanda has used to create a
buffer-zone against anti-Rwandan government forces in Congo, Mr Kagame
said - according to sources at their meeting - "Thank God they're there,
because if they were not we would have to do the job."
