Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi has publicly urged Rwandan President Paul Kagame to help end the ongoing M23 rebel insurgency, calling for peace amid faltering diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern Congo.
Speaking at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels on Thursday, Tshisekedi extended an open appeal to Kagame, saying, “It is not too late to do things right. I take this forum as a witness to extend my hand to you, Mr. President, so that we can make peace between brave men.”
Tshisekedi also called on Rwanda to urge the M23 rebels to halt their military escalation, emphasizing that peace required Kigali’s cooperation.
The M23 group has launched a rapid offensive this year, capturing more territory in eastern Congo than ever before. Although Rwanda has repeatedly denied supporting M23, a United Nations expert report released in July concluded that Kigali exercises command and control over the rebels—a claim Rwanda rejects.
Efforts led by the United States and Qatar to mediate between Congo and Rwanda have faced multiple setbacks, with fighting continuing to claim lives and displace hundreds of thousands across the region.
The DRC and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington in June, followed by several rounds of direct talks in Doha, but implementation has stalled. A planned economic framework between the two nations was also delayed last week after Kinshasa declined to sign, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Rwandan officials swiftly dismissed Tshisekedi’s appeal, accusing him of using the Brussels forum for political theatrics.
“The only one who can stop this escalation is President Tshisekedi — and he alone,” Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said on X (formerly Twitter), blaming Congo’s leader for inflaming tensions.
Rwanda’s presidential press secretary, Stephanie Nyombayire, also criticized Tshisekedi’s remarks, saying he was “portraying himself as a peacemaker while claiming victimhood in a conflict he has refused to resolve.”
The eastern Congo conflict, which has roots in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, continues to destabilize the region, despite international efforts to broker peace and promote investment in the area’s vast mineral resources.
Source:Africa Publicity
