Politics

Congo and Rwanda are to hold discussions amid rising tensions over insurgents.

Published

3 months ago

July 4, 2022

President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will visit his Rwandan colleague Paul Kagame for discussions in Angola this week, officials announced on Monday, June 4.

The meeting’s topic is unknown, but it is believed to provide an occasion to discuss current diplomatic concerns between the two countries.

The M23 rebel group, which Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting, has increased its attacks in eastern Congo.

Rwanda denies aiding the militants and, in turn, accuses Congo of fighting alongside insurgents, sparking worries of renewed conflict in the region.

The conference is expected to take place in Angola’s capital, Luanda, on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Africanews, reporting officials from Rwanda and Congo.

Earlier on Monday, Kagame stated that he did not mind Rwanda’s exclusion from a regional military group established in April to combat rebels in eastern Congo.

Congo approved the concept but stated that Rwanda’s participation would be unacceptable.

“That is not a problem for me. We are not pleading with anyone to join the force. ” In a wide-ranging interview, Kagame told Rwanda’s national broadcaster.

“If anybody comes from anywhere, excluding Rwanda, and provides the solution that we’re all looking for, why should I have a problem?” Kagame asked.

The M23 launched its biggest prolonged onslaught in Congo’s eastern borderlands since conquering wide swaths of territory in 2012-2013 at the end of March.

Despite billions of dollars spent on one of the UN’s largest peacekeeping missions, more than 120 rebel groups continue to operate throughout broad swaths of east Congo nearly two decades after the central African country’s civil wars were declared over.