The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has accused Rwanda of obstructing ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the M23 rebel conflict in eastern Congo, which has led to the displacement of over 1.7 million people.
Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner made these remarks to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday. This statement comes in response to allegations from Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, who claimed that Congo has refused to sign a peace deal agreed upon in late August during talks mediated by Angola.
The Tutsi-led M23 group has been engaged in an insurgency in eastern Congo since 2022. The DRC, along with the United Nations and other organizations, has accused Rwanda of providing support to the M23 insurgents with troops and weapons.
Rwanda, on the other hand, denies these allegations, asserting that its actions are purely defensive and accusing Congo of collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu rebel group that has targeted Tutsis in both nations.
Both parties have tentatively agreed on a plan that would involve Congo “neutralizing” the FDLR while Rwanda would disengage from the conflict. However, Wagner criticized Rwanda for offering only a vague promise of withdrawal without any guarantees or specific details. She emphasized that Rwanda’s withdrawal appears contingent on Congo addressing the FDLR first.
“For this process to make sense, it is imperative that these two components be implemented in tandem,” Wagner stated.
Additional points of contention in the negotiations include Rwanda’s refusal to accept any clause in the peace agreement that would acknowledge its responsibility in the conflict, as well as Congo’s demand for a regional justice mechanism.
Discussions are currently taking place in Luanda, Angola, as part of a long-standing effort to alleviate tensions between the two countries. An Angolan representative confirmed that the next minister-level meeting is scheduled to occur in Luanda within the next few days.
