The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekendi, believes that war with Rwanda is “likely” as heavy fighting has been going on for months between the army and the M23 rebels, who are backed by that country.
“Of course, a war is possible, I’m not hiding it from you,” Tshisekendi said in an interview with the French newspaper Figaro. “This country (Rwanda), which is our neighbor, violates our territory to loot critical minerals and terrorize our population,” said the Congolese president, denouncing “the inaction of the international community.”
DR Congo has called for sanctions to be imposed on Rwanda.
Kigali denies involvement, but many countries, including the US and France, believe Rwanda supports the M23 group and has sent forces to its borders.
“M23 is nothing more than an empty shell! It numbers around 500 men. No, it is the Rwandan soldiers who are sowing death on our soil,” Tshisekendi said. Last week the Congolese president made an official visit to France and believes he has secured the support of Paris, which nevertheless maintains good relations with Rwanda.
“I want to remove this possibility (of war) as much as possible because I would rather devote our energy and wealth to the development of the country’s 145 regions than to the military endeavour,” Tshisekendi continued.
When asked if he would agree to start talks with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, he recalled that Angola is already mediating to that end. “Our delegations will meet within the next few days in Luanda to find a common ground of understanding. I am asking for one simple thing: that Rwanda withdraw its soldiers from Congolese territory.”
Fighting in eastern DR Congo killed nine people today in a displaced persons camp near Goma.
With the support of units of the Rwandan army, the rebels of the “March 23 Movement” (M23), took up arms again in late 2021 and occupied large areas in North Kivu, going so far as to encircle Goma. This city has over 1 million permanent residents and as many internally displaced people who arrived there in waves after the start of M23 operations.
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