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US accused of withholding UN report critical of ally Rwanda
The report examines claims that Rwanda is fueling an armed rebellion in neighboring Congo, which has been wracked with violence since the civil war officially ended a decade ago. The report by a group of U.N. experts was submitted to the Security Council on Monday, London's Guardian newspaper reports, but an annex detailing Rwanda's involvement was held back at the insistence of Rwanda and its allies.
"It seems the panel tried to submit the report and annex to the security council,” Congolese special envoy to the U.N. Atoki Ileka said, according to the newspaper. “I have no proof but from what I'm told one delegation, which seems to be the U.S., asked them to delay for two weeks. If it was the U.S., it would be trying to protect one of its allies, Rwanda. I think that would be a mistake because it would also be protecting Bosco Ntaganda, who is wanted by the international criminal court."
Ntaganda is a renegade Congolese general who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for the war crime of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 during the Congolese civil war of 1998-2003. He has been able to count on Rwanda's support in the past, according to a May 3 letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed by 142 civil society and human rights organizations that urges the United States press Rwanda to “support the lawful arrest of Ntaganda by the Congolese government and not provide him with sanctuary.”
