Tensions between DR Congo and Rwanda continue to rise, with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi, saying Kigali should not underestimate Kinshasa’s determination to fight.
“We are ready to face any threat from Rwanda,” said Tshisekedi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
“The defence of our country is our priority, and all scenarios are considered to ensure peace in the DRC,” he emphasised.
The development comes against the backdrop of increased M23 rebel activities in eastern DRC.
M23’s political leader, Bertrand Bisiimwa, said on Tuesday that the insurgents were ready to continue fighting the regime of Tshisekedi since they no longer trusted his commitment to ending the conflict through peaceful means.
Local leaders reported clashes between M23 rebels and a Congolese territorial defence force known as Wazalendo in the hills of Kihimba and Lupfunda in Masisi, North Kivu Province on Wednesday.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame said he did not have any conflict with Tshisekedi.
“The conflict is not between me and Tshisekedi but between Tshisekedi and M23,” Kagame was quoted as saying in New York.
Kagame also recently accused Tshisekedi of reneging on his commitments to address issues raised by M23 rebels and violating the terms of peace deals negotiated by East African leaders.
Kagame also accuses Tshisekedi of arming FDLR fighters to attack Rwandan territory.
ChimpReports understands that the Congolese government has over the last two years been stocking weapons, recruiting, and training regular forces in preparation for an armed conflict with Rwanda.
With the strengthened capabilities of the FARDC, Tshisekedi yesterday said that “Rwanda will have to pay for its aggression in the DRC and its support for the M23 criminal group and failing to abide by the resolutions of the Luanda and Nairobi peace plans.”
Tshisekedi said he “does not exclude any scenario to defend the DRC and have true peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo”.
He emphasised: “Considering that the M23 is none other than a criminal group supported by Rwanda, no negotiation or dialogue is possible with such criminals”.
The Rwandan army remains on standby in preparation for any eventuality, according to officials.
Tshisekedi accused Rwanda “of supporting sowers of trouble from the M23 who, curiously, even ask for dialogue even though they are guilty of traumatising the DR Congo, for acts of war, rapes, massacres and terrorist acts perpetrated on its soil and against civilian populations, most of whom are displaced.”
Violations
Rwanda recently said the DRC was violating decisions of regional peace initiatives by continuing to provide weapons and fighting alongside several illegal armed groups in the Eastern DRC.
“This also constitutes a clear violation of the Nairobi Process, which is aimed at disarmament and demobilisation of these armed groups, and a threat to Rwanda’s security,” Rwanda said earlier this year.
“In addition, the recruitment of foreign mercenaries by the DRC is a clear indication that the DRC is preparing for war and not peace.”
Meanwhile, Tshisekedi used his speech at the UN General Assembly to call for the accelerated withdrawal of the UN force in Congo, known as MONUSCO.
Tshisekedi was surprised to note that several decades later, MONUSCO has not succeeded in putting an end to the proliferation of armed groups or in protecting the civilian population.
He said he had instructed his government to begin discussions with the UN for an accelerated withdrawal of MONUSCO by December 2023 instead of 2024, as initially agreed.
CREDIT: Chimpreports
