Rwanda rejects U.S accusation of involvement in bombing IDP sites in eastern DRC

People build a tent in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp, home to tens of thousands of war-displaced people, on the outskirts of Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on April 11, 2024. [Xinhua]

Rwanda has rejected the U.S accusation that it was involved in last Friday's bombing on sites for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which killed at least 14 people.

"The attempt by the U.S. Department of State to immediately and without any investigation place blame on Rwanda for the loss of lives in the IDP camps is unjustified," the Rwandan government spokesperson's office said in a statement Sunday.

"Rwanda will not shoulder responsibility for the bombing of the IDP camps around Goma," the statement said, calling for credible investigation and verification to establish what really happened.

At least 14 people were killed and 35 others injured, mainly women and children, after "around 10" bombs hit three IDP sites in the Lac Vert, Lushagala and Mugunga neighbourhoods of Goma, capital of the eastern DRC province of North Kivu, said Peter Chirimwami, the military governor of North Kivu, on Saturday.

The Rwandan government statement said that the position taken by the U.S. government "raises serious questions about its credibility as a facilitator in the region, and undermines its ability to play a constructive role toward a peaceful solution."

The DRC government blamed Friday's attacks on rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23), who have been battling the DRC military and gained control of territories in North Kivu.

Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, an accusation Kigali denies.