France and Germany became the latest parties to openly accuse Rwanda of supporting M23, one of several militant groups operating in the eastern DRC. During a visit to the DRC on Tuesday, French Minister of State for Development Chrysoula Zacharopoulou told reporters the M23 must lay down its arms and abandon the areas it occupies. "Rwanda, because it must be named, must stop supporting the M23," she said. "We must put an end to the repetition of history in this region." After lying mostly dormant for years, the group resumed fighting late last year, making significant advances, capturing several towns and villages, including Rutshuru and Kiwanja. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 with troops and firepower. A UN group of expert found "solid evidence" earlier this year that Kigali has supported the M23 rebel group's advance in the east. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, speaking on the sidelines of a recent US-Africa summit, however, denied his country's involvement in the fighting saying it is "Congo's problem.''
