Rwandan Ambassador Expelled Following Rebel Advance

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has expelled the Rwandan ambassador in response to recent gains by the M23 rebel group in the eastern part of the country, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar).

On Saturday, the Congolese government gave Rwandan Amb. Vincent Karega 48 hours to leave the country, ratcheting up tensions between the neighbors.

The DRC says the Rwandan military has been providing support to M23 militants in the eastern North Kivu province. M23 claims to fight for ethnic Tutsis in the DRC. Rwandan President Paul Kagame and many of his leading cadre are also Tutsi.

The Rwandan government has repeatedly denied providing support to M23, although a U.N. report in August said there was “solid evidence” that Rwandan troops were providing assistance to the group.

A Congolese government spokesman said that a significant arrival of Rwandan forces in support of the rebels had been observed in recent days.

M23 reportedly captured that towns of Kiwanja and Rutshuru following heavy fighting with Congolese forces over the weekend.

The fighting led the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the region to increase its “troop alert level” and bolster support for the Congolese army.