In a diplomatic move aimed at fostering lasting peace in the troubled eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed hope on Thursday following the recent elections in the vast African country.
During discussions with Angolan President Joao Lourenco, Blinken highlighted Lourenco’s role as a trusted mediator, describing him as someone essential to the peace process. “We talked about concrete ways to have that process move forward,” Blinken informed reporters after the meeting in Luanda.
The longstanding accusation from Kinshasa implicating Rwanda in supporting M23 rebels, primarily consisting of ethnic Tutsis, was a central point of discussion. These rebels have seized extensive territories, leading to mass displacement and violence against women.
Blinken credited US-led efforts, which included intelligence sharing, for maintaining calm during the December elections in the historically turbulent DRC. The elections resulted in the easy victory of incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi.
“With the elections now concluded, we believe that it’s an important moment to try to forge forward with diplomacy,” Blinken asserted, without explicitly predicting the likelihood of success.
While emphasizing the need to build on earlier efforts by Angola and Kenya, Blinken called for a collaborative push to “work towards a durable peace” in the region.
Over the past two weeks, Blinken engaged in a telephone conversation with President Tshisekedi and met Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The United States has previously deemed credible the allegations that Rwanda is providing support to the M23 rebels. In response, President Kagame has called for action against Hutu fighters based in the DRC, asserting their connection to the perpetrators of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, which predominantly targeted Tutsis.
