A verbal spat broke out between the DR Congo and Rwanda on Tuesday during the United Nations Human Rights Council session.
An exchange of words between the two countries broke out as the DR Cong presented its national report as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
DR Congo’s Minister of Communication and Media Patrick Muyaya strongly attacked Rwanda whom he accused of playing a major role in the current security situation in eastern DRC and also cited the latter for human rights violations.
Muyaya also accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, particularly through the recruitment of child soldiers.
Muyaya’s presentation drew an immediate reaction from the Rwandan delegation, who firmly rejected the accusations.
“This review is about the DRC and not Rwanda. I request the speaker to refrain from bringing Rwanda into this review which is limited to human rights issues in the DRC,” the Rwandan representative responded.
“The DRC has no lessons to give Rwanda when it comes to human rights issues,” he added.
The chair of the session tried to calm things down by reminding delegates about the session, indicating that the Human Rights Council was not the place for bilateral or territorial disputes.
