KIGALI, Rwanda, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Rwandan support for rebellion in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo is growing, despite Rwanda's claim it is not backing the rebels.
Although it has rejected accusations by the United Nations it is offering financing to the M23 rebel group, which recently captured the strategic Congolese city of Goma, and has previously backed armed groups fighting in eastern Congo, money from Rwanda has been influencing rebel actions, the BBC reported Thursday.
A former rebel, who fought government troops in what he perceived to be a grassroots faction told the BBC the leader of the movement "came with a delegation from the government of Rwanda, saying that the movement has changed. We have to follow the instructions of the Rwanda government."
He added he and his troops were given monthly supplies of cash, as much as 12,500 pounds ($20,000) for food, uniforms and medicine, until they abandoned their effort, realizing the scale of Rwandan involvement.
A U.N. report also said M23's de facto chain of command has the Rwandan defense minister at its top.
