The government of Rwanda said on Wednesday (26), through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, that the country does not fear becoming isolated due to the war in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), insisting that it will not be prevented from defending its borders.

The Rwandan-backed M23 - according to the DRC and the United Nations - has seized two major cities in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks, giving the armed group an important foothold in the region since it took up arms again at the end of 2021.

"Any talk of punitive measures and sanctions against Rwanda cannot prevent us from protecting our borders and our people," Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told the association of UN correspondents, ACANU, adding that his country "is not afraid of being isolated".

We are facing an existential threat against our country from a genocidal force. "So talking about diplomatic isolation is not really a concern for now." Nduhungirehe was in Geneva to address the United Nations Human Rights Council.

According to AFP and ReutersThe United States has sanctioned Rwanda's Minister of State for Regional Integration, James Kabarebe, and the spokesman for M23 and the Congo River Alliance, Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston, along with two of Kanyuka's companies, Kingston Fresh and Kingston Holding, for links "to violence and human rights violations in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)".

Britain said on Tuesday that it was suspending most direct bilateral aid to Rwanda.

East and southern African countries are studying the possibility of sending troops to protect areas in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is currently under the control of M23 rebels, according to Reuters.

The document says that the EAC and SADC regional blocs are considering asking for a mandate, together with unspecified African Union forces, to protect the M23-controlled areas in North and South Kivu provinces, and that the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, could also be invited to reinforce its presence in the region.

On Wednesday, South Africa completed the evacuation of 127 soldiers from the front lines of the conflict in eastern DRC, four of whom were seriously wounded, the army said.

(Photo DR)