A glimmer of hope emerged for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, agreed to meet with his Congolese counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi. This breakthrough follows mediation efforts spearheaded by Angolan President João Lourenço, acting in his role as African Union mediator for the DRC crisis.
The agreement came about after a meeting in Luanda, Angola’s capital, between Presidents Kagame and Lourenço. Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio announced that President Kagame had consented to meet President Tshisekedi at a date to be determined by the mediator. Minister Antonio further revealed that both Rwanda and the DRC had agreed to the talks, with ministerial delegations from each nation actively working to facilitate the dialogue. Rwanda’s presidency even released a statement suggesting that both leaders had “agreed on key steps towards addressing the root causes of the conflict,” hinting at a potential turning point.
This development comes amidst escalating tensions in eastern DRC, where clashes between M23 rebels and Congolese forces have displaced over 100,000 people, according to the United Nations. Previously, President Tshisekedi had refused to meet without the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory – a claim Rwanda fiercely denies.
President Kagame’s willingness to engage in dialogue highlights the importance of regional cooperation in tackling the complex challenges plaguing the Great Lakes region. Accusations of Rwandan support for the M23 rebels have further strained relations, with Kigali adamantly rejecting any involvement in the conflict. This upcoming meeting presents a critical opportunity for both countries to address these allegations and explore avenues for constructive collaboration in resolving the crisis.