DRC’s Tshisekedi: I am ready for dialogue, but not with M23
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi.
What you need to know:
- Tshisekedi said Kinshasa will continue to take part in talks in spite of the obstacles.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi says he is ready for dialogue to resolve the crisis in the eastern parts of the country, but the talks must not include the M23, who Kinshasa has labelled terrorists.
Speaking two days after Rwanda President Paul Kagame indicated the collapse of dialogue with his neighbours, Tshisekedi said Kinshasa will continue to take part in talks in spite of the obstacles.
Addressing the diplomatic corps in Kinshasa, he summarised the state of affairs for Congo’s various sectors including security and regional affairs, on the backd of a similar event in Kigali in which Kagame blamed Tshisekedi for the war and foreign interference for a lack of solution.
“The Luanda Process, despite the obstacles, remains an opportunity that we continue to pursue with determination, in a sincere but lucid spirit,” Tshisekedi told the audience on Saturday.
He was referring to the mediation programme endorsed by the African Union and mediated by Angolan President Joao Lourenco.
“Our commitment within this framework has always been based on a sincere desire to peacefully resolve the crisis between the DRC and Rwanda.”
According to him, the DRC was fully committed to implementing the Luanda Process roadmap, some loose arrangement between both sides to ease the tensions. It includes ensuring the Congolese government disarms the FDLR, remnants of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and Kigali’s withdrawal of support for the M23. For the Congolese president, this framework is designed to restore confidence between the DRC and Rwanda, defuse the tension and prevent regional escalation.
While the two sides agreed on a mechanism to follow through this roadmap, an emergent mistrust has stalled the process. Instead, violence erupted between the M23 and the government forces and allied militia. It has recently led to a displacement of more than 100,000 civilians.
Once again, Tshisekedi pointed an accusing finger at Rwanda for “its support for the M23, which is sowing terror in North and South Kivu and Ituri.” According to the Congolese head of state, rebel attacks have caused the death of 650 civilians in 2024, and forced thousands of others to flee their villages to crowd refugee camps.
Tshisekedi rejected any idea of dialogue with the M23, something Kigali has been pushing for.
“Dialogue with a terrorist group like the M23 is a red line that we will never cross,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, DRC and Rwandan government officials continue to openly quarrel on social media over who should take responsibility for the atrocities in eastern Congo.
Speaking to diplomats on Thursday, President Kagame directly questioned the legitimacy and leadership abilities of his counterpart in Kinshasa.
"People tell us they want democracy everywhere, they encourage elections, (yet) the person who is causing problems in this situation -- I'm talking about Rwanda and DRC -- has never been elected. And you know it. This man Tshisekedi was never elected first. He didn't at all and you know it."
In response, Tshisekedi said Saturday: "In the DRC, we have made the irreversible choice to banish dictatorship and build a truly inclusive democracy, unlike in other countries where elections resemble a pre-written scenario, with opponents carefully chosen in advance for unchanged results."
The online exchanges between Congolese and Rwandan officials are not new, however. The Congolese president revisited an issue that is currently causing controversy in Congo: The death penalty.
He said that, "the DRC, as a sovereign state, has clarified the strict conditions for the application of the death penalty, limited solely to cases of terrorism and treason within the army."
"It is important to emphasise that, to date, no executions have been carried out, demonstrating our commitment to developing this issue within a thoughtful framework that respects fundamental rights,” he added.
