Next week, leaders of the 11-member International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) convene in Kampala, Uganda, to discuss a return-to-peace formula in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

President Paul Kagame and President Joseph Kabila are expected to come face to face again in less than a month in the Kampala meeting, which is a follow-up to the one that took place on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa three weeks ago.

READ: (Opinion) Kagame, Kabila pact on M23 timely

According to Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Louise Mushikiwabo, the meeting in Kampala will be preceded by a meeting of ministers of defence in Khartoum this week.

Appearing on a TV talkshow, Ms Mushikiwabo said that, ahead of the August 7 and 8 meeting, the ministers of defence will meet to discuss the modalities of setting up the international force that was agreed upon during the AU summit, to monitor the borders between Rwanda and the DRC.

“The meeting in Khartoum will look at what a force of such nature is composed of, the logistical part of it, who contributes what and what their mandate will be. The outcome will be presented during the heads of state summit in Kampala,” Ms Mushikiwabo says.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon; AU chairperson, President Yayi Boni of Benin, as well as ministers of foreign affairs and defence from the region are expected to attend the meeting to be chaired by President Yoweri Museveni, the current chair of ICGLR.

Former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Benjamin Mkapa are also expected to attend in their capacities as UN peace envoys to DRC.

The meeting in Kampala comes as tensions are heightening in DRC and accusations about Rwanda backing the M23 are gaining momentum. Rwanda maintains that it is not supporting the rebels loyal to ICC-wanted Gen Bosco Ntaganda.

In an interview with KFM on Wednesday, the spokesperson of M23, Jean Marie Vianney Kazarama, said that the rebels were determined to advance towards Goma town and also engage the UN peacekeeping force Monusco, which he said has taken sides, fighting alongside government forces.

“We have no option but to engage them (Monusco). If they shoot at us, we will return fire because their mandate is not to fight us,” said Kazarama.

Last week, the US State Department announced that the US government was slashing $200,000 in military support to Kigali over accusations of Rwanda fomenting conflict inside the DRC.

State Department spokesperson Hilary Fuller Renner said in a statement that the funds, which were meant to go towards a military academy for non-commissioned officers, were to be held back based on the findings of a UN experts report that implicates Kigali in the rebellion in North Kivu.

Rwanda dismissed the decision by the US government, with Ms Mushikiwabo saying that it was based on “misinformation.”

“The United States or any other donor nation is entitled to dispense or withhold support and will do so according to its own political and policy imperatives,” she said.

While officiating at the opening of the Senior Staff and High Command Military Training College in Nyakinama, in Rwanda’s Northern Province, Kagame termed the $200,000 “nothing.”

The Rwandan leader said that he understood that “someone,” based on the accusations, decided to withhold some $200,000 in military aid because “RDF is helping, or is associated with the rebels.”

“Come on, this is not serious, honestly? And it’s not the money, it’s even just the name you are giving to the RDF and this country that it does not deserve and has no basis. It’s not this money, what is $200,000? It’s nothing,” Kagame said.

At the same event, Kagame blamed the international community for the problems in DRC.

“This problem has not been caused by Rwanda, it has not been abated by Rwanda. On the contrary, in the past three to four years, nobody in this region, in this continent and beyond has worked as hard to see peace come to our country and to our neighbouring country as Rwanda.

“Actually, the problem came from outside but if you take a look at the long history, even the most recent history, this recent problem, was created by the international community, our partners and because they don’t listen. In the end, they don’t provide a solution, they just keep creating problems,” Kagame said.

“We are genuine about wanting to find a solution. They will come, run over everything like other people don’t matter, then when things explode, they’ll come around and blame you for it even if they are the ones who cause the problem,” he said.

A few days after Kagame’s remarks, the head of the US War Crimes Office, Stephen Rapp said that Rwanda’s leadership is likely to face prosecution at the International Criminal Court over the accusations.

READ: US warns Kagame could face charges of aiding war in DRC

Mr Rapp told The Guardian that the Rwandan leadership may be open to charges of “aiding and abetting” crimes against humanity in a neighbouring country – actions similar to those for which the former Liberian president, Charles Taylor, was jailed for 50 years by an international court in May. Rwanda is not a signatory to the ICC.

Kagame took to the micro blogging site Twitter to dismiss Mr Rapp’s claim.

“Forget about grandstanding of arrogant bullies who don’t care about justice of others and only pretend and use lies. They have never done justice anywhere… all are just false claims of righteousness used to dominate… by some,” Kagame wrote.

“They are... the ones responsible for the crimes in the Congo. For those countries that think they are powerful, they need to be wise and just as well... not blind,” he added.