Africa News Broadcast 
The head of international military cooperation from Kigali is in Washington to defend the actions of Rwandan troops at the border with eastern Congo. This week, a high-level Rwandan delegation is engaging in candid discussions with the administration of Joe Biden before President Paul Kagame’s fourth-term inauguration later in the month.
The delegation’s agenda includes Rwanda’s contentious activities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the alleged backing of the M23 rebel group. Also under discussion are Rwanda’s expanding military influence on the continent and constitutional amendments that have enabled Kagame to seek re-election.
The delegation, led by the chief government spokesperson Yolande Makolo, comprises Brig. Gen. Patrick Karuretwa, the head of international military cooperation, Col. Sankara Rwagasana, and Mauro De Lorenzo, a senior adviser to Kagame.
Scheduled meetings include those with the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, influential figures on Capitol Hill, think tanks, and U.S. journalists. Additionally, the delegation plans to visit New York for engagements at the United Nations.
Makolo, during a briefing with journalists at the Rwandan embassy in Washington, stated, “Rwanda is progressing, remains a steadfast ally and a dependable partner to the U.S., and is always ready to contribute to global problem-solving.”
The delegation’s visit coincides with heightened scrutiny of Rwanda at the United Nations and in Washington over alleged contributions to violence in eastern Congo. Recently, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Congo River Alliance (also known as Alliance Fleuve Congo, or AFC), indirectly associating it with Kigali.
The AFC, along with its affiliates, including the M23 group supported by Rwanda and designated by the U.S. and U.N., has been advocating for the overthrow of the DRC government, employing violence to pursue this political aim.
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