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The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has said it will formally write to Uganda seeking information on alleged support for M23 rebels in the eastern part of the vast and mineral-rich country.
DRC’s Foreign Minister Therese Kayiwamba said Kinshasa was “deeply concerned” by the United Nations report which claimed that the Ugandan military (UPDF) supported the M23 rebellion in North Kivu.
“We will raise the issue on a diplomatic level,” said Minister Kayiwamba during a press briefing in Kinshasa on Monday.
Reports of Uganda backing M23 rebels threaten the warm relations between the two countries.
Congolese lawmakers recently urged Kinshasa to break diplomatic ties with Uganda for reportedly backing the M23 rebellion.
DRC President Felix Tshisekedi supported Uganda’s war against Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorists in North Kivu and Ituri.
DRC also remains Uganda’s major trading partner.
In 2022, Uganda’s Trade Minister Francis Mwebesa said the total trade between DRC and Uganda had increased from US $ 479.17 million in 2016, to US $ 687.1 in 2021, indicating a growth of over $200m in five years.