The DRC accused Rwanda on Wednesday of manipulating refugees for political purposes after its central African neighbor announced that it would no longer accept individuals fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Rwandan President Paul Kagame stated on Monday that his country “cannot keep hosting refugees,” escalating tensions between the two countries.
The DRC government responded strongly on Wednesday, and said the comments were “proof that human rights have no value for the Rwandan president”.
Kagame has been blackmailing the international community on human life, according to the DRC government’s spokesman, Patrick Muyaya.
Muyaya claimed that the migrants were being “used for political purposes,” accusing Kigali of attempting to shift world attention away from Rwanda’s guilt.
In the east of the mineral-rich DRC, ongoing combat pits federal troops against M23 rebels who have conquered large swaths of land.
The DRC, along with the United States and numerous European countries, has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting Tutsi-led rebels, but Kigali denies this.
Tensions have risen, and thousands of people have fled the fighting into neighboring countries, particularly Rwanda.
According to AFP, on Monday, Kagame assured the upper house of parliament that the refugees are “not Rwanda’s problem. And we are going to ensure that everybody realizes that it is not Rwanda’s problem”.
“I am refusing that Rwanda should carry this burden,” he stated.