Tshisekedi calls Kagame ‘Adolf Hitler’ in campaign speech

In a fiery campaign speech delivered on Friday, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi drew parallels between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Adolf Hitler, accusing Kagame of harboring expansionist ambitions in the DRC.

Tshisekedi’s remarks came during a rally in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, a region heavily affected by the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.

The region has been plagued by decades of violence perpetrated by various rebel groups, including the Tutsi-led M23, which has captured significant territory since launching its offensive in late 2021.

The DRC government, along with several Western nations like the United States and France, have accused Rwanda of backing the M23, although Kigali vehemently denies these accusations.

Addressing Kagame directly, Tshisekedi declared, “Since you wanted to behave like Adolf Hitler by having expansionist aims (in the DRC), I promise he will end up like Adolf Hitler.”

While relative stability has returned to most of the country following two major wars that ravaged the nation in the 1990s and 2000s, eastern DRC remains a hotbed of militia and rebel activity.

This region borders Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, further complicating the security situation.

Tshisekedi, who assumed office in 2019 after a contested election, is currently seeking a second term. He has pledged to improve the lives of the impoverished, combat corruption, and restore peace to the conflict-ridden east.

This weekend, he is scheduled to visit Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, another region heavily impacted by the ongoing violence.

The presidential election is scheduled for December 20th, and Tshisekedi’s inflammatory rhetoric towards Rwanda is likely to further escalate tensions between the two neighboring nations.

It remains to be seen how this escalating conflict will play out in the upcoming election and its impact on the fragile peace in eastern DRC.

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