(Ecofin Agency) - The United States has blamed Rwanda for the ongoing bloody armed conflict in eastern DRC, following several reports accusing Rwandan President Paul Kagame. However, Kagame has consistently denied these accusations.

The United States has restricted its military cooperation with Rwanda under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA), a law aimed at preventing the use of child soldiers. This decision has placed Rwanda on the list of countries that recruit and use child soldiers. Rwanda is the 19th country to join this list.

According to a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State contacted by RFI, this blacklist aims to “hold countries accountable for which we have credible information indicating that they are recruiting and using child soldiers, either in their government forces or in armed groups they support.”

Rwanda’s integration to this list is due to its alleged support for the rebel armed group M23 operating in eastern DR Congo. Rwandan Defense Forces are believed to provide logistical and military support to this armed militia, known for recruiting and using child soldiers, and classified as a terrorist organization by the USA.

On multiple occasions, the United Nations has denounced Rwanda's involvement in the conflict, despite denials by President Paul Kagame. In 2013, the U.S. even suspended its military aid to the country. In late 2022, several European civil society organizations and platforms also called on the EU to suspend their aid. Similarly, the President of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi, has repeatedly denounced Rwandan "aggression" destabilizing his country, as he still did on September 20 in New York, where the 78th United Nations General Assembly is being held. The Congolese leader did not hesitate to welcome this new American sanction.

Let’s note that since 2017, more than 17,500 children have been removed from armed groups, as reported by UNICEF in 2022. However, thousands of others remain trapped.