The Ugandan army has been accused of providing support to the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a United Nations report seen by Reuters on Monday. This comes amidst escalating clashes that have raised fears of a new all-out conflict in the region.
Uganda has denied these allegations, stating that it is cooperating closely with the Congolese government forces. The UN has long accused Rwanda of backing the M23, which has repeatedly seized large parts of mineral-rich eastern Congo, allegations that Rwanda has consistently denied.
Uganda and Rwanda previously invaded the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1996 and 1998, citing defense against local militia groups. Uganda is still conducting joint operations with Congolese troops against a Ugandan rebel group.
The Tutsi-led M23 rebels have been waging a fresh insurgency in Congo’s militia-plagued east since 2022. Ugandan troops were part of a regional force deployed in November 2022 to monitor a ceasefire with the M23. However, Congolese authorities called for the force to withdraw last year, deeming it ineffective.
“Since the resurgence of the M23 crisis, Uganda has not prevented the presence of M23 and Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) troops on its territory or passage through it,” the UN Security Council’s Group of Experts stated in the report. The report was sent to the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee at the end of April and then to members of the Security Council in June.
The UN group also claimed to have obtained evidence of active support for M23 by officials from the Ugandan military and military intelligence. They reported that M23 leaders, including the sanctioned Sultani Makenga, traveled to Uganda for meetings.
When contacted by Reuters, deputy spokesman for Uganda’s armed forces, Deo Akiiki, dismissed the allegations, stating that the reports falsely accuse the Ugandan army, which maintains strong relations with the Congolese forces (FARDC).
