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Rwanda Denies Re-Entering DRC

The Monitor (Kampala)
NEWS
October 23, 2002
Posted to the web October 23, 2002

By Badru D. Mulumba
Kampala
Rwandan army spokesman Major Jill Rutaremara has asked the UN mission in DR
Congo (MONUC) to dismiss a Sunday Vision report that that RPA has re-entered
DRC.
The state-owned Sunday Vision on Oct. 20 reported that Rwandan Patriotic Army
had re-entered eastern DRC with intention to take over Uvira, a key town
captured from its DRC rebel allies earlier in the week.
"All our forces withdrew from the DRC.
No single Rwandan soldier has gone back to the DRC and there is no way we can
participate in the recapture of Uvira when we are not in Congo," Rutaremara
said in a statement faxed to The Monitor Monday.
He further said the allegations are aimed at downplaying Rwanda's unconditional
total withdrawal from DRC.
He however said Rwanda is right to deploy troops and military equipment to its
eastern border with DRC.
He said the loss of Uvira by Rwanda- backed rebels did not constitute such a
big threat to warrant Rwandan troops to re-enter Congo.
"The Rwanda Defence Forces once again dismiss these false, negative and
alarming allegations. [We] take this opportunity to appeal to the third party
members and the UN mission (MONUC) to come up with a response on this and other
similar allegations," Rutaremara's statement reads.

   

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