Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila'sgovernment is reportedly accusing Rwanda of supporting rebel incursions, a movethat Kinshasa says could escalate diplomatic tension between the two countries.The Kabila government says Kigali is sending troops across the borderand fighting in support of renegade General Laurent Nkunda's rebel group.Rwanda has denied the charge. This comes after the United Nations condemned therenegade general for saying he would launch an offensive to take over thecountry. Jack Kahora is the VOAcorrespondent. He tells reporter Peter Clottey from Goma near North KivuProvince the Kabila government says it has proof to support its claims.
"Thecondition at the moment is really sad because clashes resumed yesterday(Wednesday) and the fact were very strong and made some people aware in thevillages to move to the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps. And todaythere is a serious humanitarian crisis in the region and with the fighting,which is ongoing there are increasing number of IDP'S, which makes it the moreserious," Kahora said.
Hesaid humanitarian agencies are finding it challenging to reach out to thedisplaced persons because of the escalated clashes between the army and therebels.
"Todayit has been quite difficult to have access to most of the Internally displacedpersons (IDP) who have been running way from their homes since the end of themonth of August up till now. So, it is really a crisis that needs everyone'sattention and the authorities here are speaking about it claiming there areabout over a million and half people so far displaced because of the ongoingclashes. And this is a very serious situation," he said.
Kahora said Kinshasa's accusation is based evidence that itclaims to have gathered in the areas where Rwandan forces have allegedlyvisited.
"This dependson the different sources they have been collecting. I was told by theadministrator of the territory of Rituru, that is Domic Bofundo, who said thatall the clashes, which are taking place in his area when they go on thebattlefield to collect the bodies of those soldiers who have died, the identitycards on these demised soldiers, they find that those are of Rwanda. He alsosaid sometimes the retrieved mobile phones on these soldiers were from Rwandabecause when they used the phones all the numbers including the phones hadRwandan numbers or are from Kigali," Kahora pointed out.
Hesaid diplomatic tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali are high.
"Itis true that the relationships are not good with these two countries becausesince 1996 and 1998, all the wars, which occurred in the region and even today,are as a result of the bad relationship between the authorities in bothcountries are not in good shape. If you would remember here is an organization,which works with all neighboring countries including DRC, Rwanda and Burundi toresolve issues, the government of Kinshasa does not welcome the organization inthe country. So, this goes a long way to show how porous the relationshipbetween Kigali and Kinshasa even though the United States and the EuropeanUnion were being the establishment of the organization," he said.