Rwanda has rejected Canada’s accusations of involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conflict, calling them “defamatory” and “unacceptable.”

The Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@RwandaMFA) summoned the Canadian High Commissioner on Wednesday to express its strong opposition to Canada’s statement, which placed responsibility on Rwanda for the crisis in eastern DRC.

In a statement, Rwanda accused Canada of unfairly attributing atrocities to Kigali while ignoring the actions of the DRC government and its allied militias, including the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) and the FDLR, a group linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

“Canada is voluntarily accusing Rwanda of atrocities committed in Eastern DRC, while those crimes are committed in broad daylight by the FARDC and DRC government militias,” Rwanda’s statement read.

Rwanda also criticized Canada for disregarding its security concerns, arguing that Congolese Tutsi communities in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri were facing persecution.

“Rwanda is not deterred in its obligation to protect our citizens and national security,” the statement added.

Canada, in a statement issued on Tuesday, condemned the March 23 Movement (M23) for seizing territory in eastern DRC, including Goma and Bukavu. Ottawa further accused the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) of supporting M23, calling it a violation of the DRC’s sovereignty and the UN Charter.

“Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms the M23’s seizure of territory in eastern DRC… We also condemn the presence of the Rwanda Defence Force in the DRC and its support for the M23,” the statement read.

Additionally, Canada denounced alleged atrocities in the conflict, including attacks on civilians, displaced persons, humanitarian workers, and peacekeepers and reports of conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls. Ottawa reaffirmed its support for the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the crisis.

In response to its findings, Canada announced sanctions against Rwanda, including:

Kigali, however, strongly opposed the sanctions, accusing Canada of failing to hold the DRC government accountable for its own alleged human rights violations.

“Canada cannot claim to welcome regional peace efforts while blaming Rwanda alone and ignoring the atrocities committed by the DRC government,” Rwanda said.

Rwanda further accused FARDC and its allies, including the FDLR and Wazalendo militias, of daily attacks on Banyamulenge villages in South Kivu. Kigali criticized Canada’s “silence” on these alleged crimes, calling it “wrong and shameful.”

“The measures announced by Canada will not solve the conflict. We will continue to work with the region on the agreed African-led mediation process while safeguarding our national security,” Rwanda stated.

The diplomatic fallout between Rwanda and Canada marks an escalation in international scrutiny over the ongoing crisis in eastern DRC, where regional and global powers remain divided over the root causes of the conflict.