Rwanda has rejected sanctions imposed by the United States on its military over allegations that it is backing rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The sanctions follow reports that the March 23 Movement (M23) killed civilians in the town of Uvira, where mass graves were later discovered.

Washington has accused Rwanda’s military of supporting the rebel group, allegations Kigali has firmly denied. Rwanda maintains that it is not involved in backing M23 and has dismissed the claims as unfounded.

The M23 group has also rejected accusations that it carried out killings of civilians, as tensions continue to rise in the mineral-rich eastern DRC region.

–ChannelAfrica–