If on a few occasions, members of the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel movement which is sowing trouble in the east of the country, the Congolese President, Felix Tshisekedi, spoke for the first time this involvement of Kigali, during his working visit from June 4 to 5 in the Republic of Congo.
“Today it is clear, there is no doubt, Rwanda supported the M23 to attack the DRC”, he declared to the press. He gave as proof the fact that the M23 “had been totally defeated and its arsenal confiscated” in 2013; and if today these rebels « have recovered, it means that they left somewhere, then armed (…) somewhere ».
But Tshisekedia also wanted to display his choice for peace, dialogue; measures which should not be perceived, he specifies, as opportunities to be used by neighboring countries to destabilize his country.
“I have always maintained that it is better to build bridges than to build walls. This has always been my leitmotif. Unfortunately, today we are where we are. I hope that the situation will not remain there”, he continued.
The DRC leader warned that « wanting peace, brotherhood and solidarity is not a weakness ». For him, the DRC he leads “is a country where peace, security and hospitality reign, because our country has always been hospitable. But this should not be an opportunity for neighbors to come and provoke us. »
Everything seems to indicate that a dialogue would be possible between the two countries. In any case, it is the wish not only of Congolese President Dénis Sassou Nguesso, but also of Angolan leader, João Lourenço.
Lourenço, also current president of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGL), was asked by the current president of the African Union, Macky Sall, to mediate between the two conflicting presidents.
By OMA Newsletter N° 729 of 06/06/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
