WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY BY RDF-M23 IN DRC; TIME TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AND REFER TO INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE

MRD Press Release Number 003/2024

Like the rest of the international community, the people of Rwanda and members of political parties in opposition to the criminal RPF regime, desirous of peace and stability in the region and grouped within the Movement for Republic and Democracy (MRD), are appalled by the war crimes and crimes against humanity that the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) continue to commit against the Congolese people, including the most recent shelling of the Mugunga displacement camp in eastern DRC on May 03, 2024, which resulted in the death of women, children and vulnerable civilians.

Under the authority of Paul Kagame, special units and satellites of the RDF have not ceased to engage in such crimes and destabilization activities in the sub-region for three decades with total impunity and power, in Congo DRC under the cover of the M23, and RED-Tabara in Burundi, the two rebel and terrorist movements.

France, through President Macron and the United States of America have just declared, unanimously and with supporting evidence, that it is Paul Kagame’s Rwanda that is behind all the actions to destabilize the DRC.

We, the MRD, as a citizen-political movement committed to democratic change in Rwanda, condemn such violations in the strongest terms.

We therefore call for severe and well-targeted international sanctions to be adopted and imposed against the Rwandan politico-military authorities and Paul Kagame in particular.

To this end, we recall the apt words of French President Emmanuel Macron, who, when welcoming President Félix Tshisekedi, criticized the “double standards” in the system of international sanctions and justice; clearly suggesting that if Russian President Vladimir Putin was sanctioned by the international community for his crimes in Ukraine, Rwandan President Kagame should also be sanctioned and brought to justice for his crimes in the DRC.

This is why we ask, in addition to economic and military sanctions, that the government of the DRC and/or any other competent institution refer to international justice for the crimes committed on its territory and in the DRC by the RDF-M23 tandem.

Washington, May 4, 2024

Mrs. Christine Coleman,
MRD President

Please sign the petition