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| Rwanda 'protecting M23 DR Congo rebels' | Rwanda 'protecting M23 DR Congo rebels' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Rwanda of "protecting" M23 rebel leaders wanted for war crimes. | The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Rwanda of "protecting" M23 rebel leaders wanted for war crimes. |
| A government official told the BBC that seven months after the end of the rebellion, Rwanda was also delaying attempts to interview about 500 ex-fighters currently in a camp in Rwanda. | A government official told the BBC that seven months after the end of the rebellion, Rwanda was also delaying attempts to interview about 500 ex-fighters currently in a camp in Rwanda. |
| Some 800,000 people fled their homes in eastern DR Congo during the insurgency. | Some 800,000 people fled their homes in eastern DR Congo during the insurgency. |
| Rwandan has long denied that it supported the rebels and says it is co-operating with DR Congo's requests. | Rwandan has long denied that it supported the rebels and says it is co-operating with DR Congo's requests. |
| The M23 took up arms in eastern DR Congo in April 2012, accusing the government of marginalising the ethnic Tutsi minority and failing to honour previous peace accords. | The M23 took up arms in eastern DR Congo in April 2012, accusing the government of marginalising the ethnic Tutsi minority and failing to honour previous peace accords. |
| Following their defeat at the hands of the Congolese army and a UN brigade in November 2013, former fighters gathered in camps in neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda. | Following their defeat at the hands of the Congolese army and a UN brigade in November 2013, former fighters gathered in camps in neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda. |
| At the scene | |
| Maud Jullien, BBC Africa, Rwanda | |
| It was surprisingly easy to find the camp in the town of Ngoma, in eastern Rwanda - far from the Congolese border. | |
| When we arrived, dozens of young men were gripping onto the camp's fence - peering outside onto the road. | |
| After more than a year in the camp, most of them say they are fed up with the wait, and want asylum in Rwanda. Despite DR Congo's offer of amnesty, they don't feel it is safe to return. | |
| Inside, the camp looked quite neat and peaceful. A garden, a few red buildings and a stretch of large white tents, where the former rebels sleep in groups of six. | |
| They cook for themselves in an outdoor kitchen. They only leave the camp to go see a doctor, but they are allowed to keep their mobile phones. | |
| On the whole, it seems like a comfortable camp - certainly not a prison. Officials tell me more than 100 of them have run away since they arrived 15 months ago. | |
| The group's former leader Jean Marie Runiga has no intention of leaving. Despite being accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in DR Congo, he is requesting asylum in Rwanda. He is hosted in a house outside the camp, which he told me was very comfortable. | |
| The subsequent peace accord stipulated that former fighters would be granted an amnesty on their return to DR Congo - and leaders of the group should be returned to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. | |
| But Francois Muamba, who works for DR Congo's government to ensure regional peace and security, has accused Rwanda of dragging its feet over these promises, to contrast to Uganda. | But Francois Muamba, who works for DR Congo's government to ensure regional peace and security, has accused Rwanda of dragging its feet over these promises, to contrast to Uganda. |
| He said Rwanda was "protecting" four wanted M23 leaders, but DR Congo did not want to press the issue as it was "not looking for war" with its neighbour. | He said Rwanda was "protecting" four wanted M23 leaders, but DR Congo did not want to press the issue as it was "not looking for war" with its neighbour. |
| All four are under UN sanctions. | |
| Attempts by Congolese officials to interview former fighters about their return to DR Congo had not been authorised by the Rwandan authorities, he said. | Attempts by Congolese officials to interview former fighters about their return to DR Congo had not been authorised by the Rwandan authorities, he said. |
| "I am speculating that this is because we will discover that about 70% of former combatants are Rwandan, not Congolese," Mr Muamba told the BBC. | "I am speculating that this is because we will discover that about 70% of former combatants are Rwandan, not Congolese," Mr Muamba told the BBC. |
| "They could also be keeping these people as a means of pressure," he said. | "They could also be keeping these people as a means of pressure," he said. |
| Rebels in DR Congo | |
| However, Rwanda's Justice Minister Johnston Busingye told the BBC correct procedures had to be followed and that DR Congo had not yet provided the necessary documents for a transfer of the wanted M23 leaders, including the group's political leader Jean Marie Runiga. | However, Rwanda's Justice Minister Johnston Busingye told the BBC correct procedures had to be followed and that DR Congo had not yet provided the necessary documents for a transfer of the wanted M23 leaders, including the group's political leader Jean Marie Runiga. |
| DR Congo initially made its transfer request in July 2013 - and has not yet replied to requests for further documents. | DR Congo initially made its transfer request in July 2013 - and has not yet replied to requests for further documents. |
| Mr Buingye said Rwanda had a duty of care to all the former rebels as human beings. | Mr Buingye said Rwanda had a duty of care to all the former rebels as human beings. |
| "Were we supposed to just throw them out on to the streets? We respect international humanitarian law." | "Were we supposed to just throw them out on to the streets? We respect international humanitarian law." |
| On a visit to a camp in Rwanda for former M23 rebels, the BBC's Maud Jullien said many former fighters were applying for asylum in Rwanda and did not want to go back to DR Congo. | On a visit to a camp in Rwanda for former M23 rebels, the BBC's Maud Jullien said many former fighters were applying for asylum in Rwanda and did not want to go back to DR Congo. |
| Many people in DR Congo feel strongly that the former rebel leaders should be brought justice, our reporter says. | Many people in DR Congo feel strongly that the former rebel leaders should be brought justice, our reporter says. |
| Eastern DR Congo has been wracked by conflict since 1994, when Hutu militias fled across the border from Rwanda after carrying out a genocide against Tutsis and moderate Hutus. | Eastern DR Congo has been wracked by conflict since 1994, when Hutu militias fled across the border from Rwanda after carrying out a genocide against Tutsis and moderate Hutus. |
| Rwanda's current government is mostly made up of ethnic Tutsis who fought against the Hutu genocidal government. | Rwanda's current government is mostly made up of ethnic Tutsis who fought against the Hutu genocidal government. |
| Laurent Nkunda, another Tutsi who led a rebel group in eastern DR Congo, remains in Rwanda five years after he fled there. He is officially under house arrest but there are no moves to prosecute him. | |
| Understanding DR Congo | Understanding DR Congo |