The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi, has denounced Rwanda’s «expansionist tendencies» amid tensions over fighting between the Congolese Army and the rebel group March 23 Movement (M23) in the east of the country.
«The year 2022 has witnessed the resurgence of Rwanda’s expansionist tendencies, under the cover of the M23,» the president said during his annual address to the nation, in which he defended the two-track approach adopted by the authorities – fighting on the ground and openness to peace negotiations.
Thus, Tshisekedi, who regretted the «aggravation» of the security crisis in the east of the country, accused Rwanda of being behind a «cowardly aggression» and of supporting the «terrorist movement» of the M23, according to a transcript of his speech published by the Congolese Presidency.
«This particular context calls for our responsibility, solidarity and cohesion,» he said, while applauding «the professionalism and courage» of the army, which «continues to carry out active combat on the ground.»
He also assured that legislative elections will take place in 2023 «to consolidate a young democracy that is still young» and argued that «respecting electoral cycles is a requirement». «I launch a solemn appeal to all our people and the parties concerned to get actively, positively and constructively involved in this electoral process,» he concluded.
Tshisekedi thus responded to the recent declarations of his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, who accused him of stirring up tensions in the east to try to postpone the elections.
Relations between the DRC and Rwanda have been in crisis since the massive arrival in eastern DRC of Rwandan Hutus accused of having massacred the Tutsis during the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
Tensions rose again in May, when the Congolese government summoned the Rwandan ambassador to denounce the country’s alleged support to the M23, something rejected by Kigali, which claims that Kinshasa gives support to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) – an armed rebel group founded and composed mainly by Hutus responsible for the 1994 genocide in the African country – to perpetrate attacks in Rwanda.
The M23 has been accused since November 2021 of carrying out attacks against Army positions in North Kivu, despite the fact that Congolese authorities and the M23 signed in December 2013 a peace agreement following fighting since 2012 with the Army, which was supported by UN troops. UN experts accused Uganda and Rwanda of supporting the rebels, although both countries denied it.
