UN Group of Experts Addendum

Excerpts from the UN Group of Experts Report on 

Rwandan Complicity in the Armed Rebellion in Eastern Congo

Since the outset of its current mandate, the Group has gathered evidence of arms embargo and
sanctions regime violations committed by the Rwandan Government. They include:

Direct assistance in the creation of M23 through the transport of weapons and soldiers
through Rwandan territory:
• Recruitment of Rwandan youth and demobilized ex-combatants as well as Congolese refugees for M23;
• Provision of weapons and ammunition to M23;
• Mobilization and lobbying of Congolese political and financial leaders for the benefit of M23;
• Direct Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) interventions into Congolese territory to reinforce M23;
• Support to several other armed groups as well as FARDC mutinies in the eastern Congo;
• Violation of the assets freeze and travel ban through supporting sanctioned individuals.

Other Transgressions:
The Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) has also deployed demobilized former FDLR combatants to reinforce M23.

The RDF has been providing military equipment, weapons, ammunition, and general supplies to M23 rebels.

RDF units themselves have also been deployed to reinforce M23 for specific operations at Runyoni.

Senior Rwandan officials have also been directly involved in the mobilization of political leaders and financial backers for M23. They include figures such as: General Jacques Nziza, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence,General James Kabarebe, the Rwandan Minister of Defense,General Charles Kayonga, the RDF Chief of Staff.

Experts on Whether Rwanda Had Opportunity to Address Claims in Report
58. The Group has made extensive efforts to engage with the Rwandan Government regarding its findings, with some limited success. All six members of the Group participated in an official visit to Kigali from 12 to 14 May 2012, though the Rwandan Government did not receive them for any substantive meetings to
discuss these issues.

FOTC Recommendations:
1. United Nations should impose sanctions on the Rwandan regime for its violations.
2. United States Congress should hold a hearing to review aid to the Rwandan military and discern whether the Leahy Amendment has been violated.
3. United States Secretary of State should enforce U.S. Law - Section 5 of The Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act or PL 109-456.

Download complete addendum here: http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2012/348/Add.1