{Congolese Army-FARDC is accused of harassing Rwandans who cross the border to Goma accusing them [Rwandans] of being part of the recent defeated Congolese rebellion commonly known as M23. }
Meanwhile Congolese who come to shop in Rwanda are able to travel through Rwanda freely without worrying about their security, residents told IGIHE Journalists who went to the spot to witness and investigate these allegations.
“The Congolese military say they have already defeated fighters of M23, what remains, is to continue their work up to Kigali,” says Elias Havugimana who lives in the Village of Mbugangari in Rubavu District not far from Goma, the Eastern City of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Havugimana, who owns a small business in Goma added, “What hurts us is that when the Congolese come home [Rwanda], they are welcomed and they have everything they need. But when we go there [Goma], we are harassed.”
Nyinawimana Vestine, a resident of Gisenyi told IGIHE that some of the FARDC members said that after defeating M23 their new target is to support FDLR so that they are able to head to Kigali.
However, Sheikh Bahame Hassan, the Mayor of Rubavu District assured residents that Rwanda is protected from any outside attack that can destabilize its security.
In an Interview with IGIHE, Bahame said that even in the past Congolese used to threaten to invade Rwanda but nothing has happened.
“Bah! There is nothing new in these statements. Even in the last days of the Mobutu regime, such rhetoric threats were made”. He added that he is hurt to see Rwandans suffer unfair treatment on the other side of border. He attributes this behavior to poor Governance; which characterizes the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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