U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Rwanda to pull back its troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and encourage M23 rebels to do the same.
Blinken’s remarks underscored America’s acceptance of Congolese allegations that Rwanda backs the M23 rebellion, which the United Nations says has displaced almost 400,000 people since March. Rwanda denies the accusations.
“We are looking to Rwanda to use its influence with M23 to encourage” them to withdraw their troops, Blinken said at the end of the three-day US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C, on Dec. 15. “Rwandan forces need to pull back” as well, he added.