On February 19, 2024, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, firmly reaffirmed his country’s position of never negotiating with Rwanda via the M23. Speaking at the mini-summit on the security situation in the east in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Congolese head of state clearly declared: “We will never negotiate with the M23.”
Faced with various manipulations and lies, President Tshisekedi wanted to reestablish the truth and emphasize that the current war is not an invention of the DRC, but a plan aimed at plundering the country for the benefit of Rwanda and its allies. . He also affirmed that the peace sought by the DRC should in no way be conditional.
This position was firmly defended by President Tshisekedi, who stressed that peace was an essential objective, but not at any price. He clearly stated: “I want peace, but not at any price.”
Furthermore, Angolan President João Lourenço, facilitator of the African Union mini-summit, took the decision to consult the DRC and Rwanda separately, in order to try to resolve the situation in a favorable manner. This mediation will continue in Luanda in a separate bilateral format for each protagonist.
The mini-summit, which took place in a tense context, allowed João Lourenço to meet separately with Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame. The objective of these bilateral meetings was to relaunch the peace process and achieve a ceasefire between the DRC and the M23.
This meeting aimed to promote a constructive and reconciliatory dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda, to immediately end hostilities, to proceed with the withdrawal of the M23 from the occupied areas and to launch the process of cantonment of the M23 as well as the implementation of the PDDR-CS.
This situation remains complex and delicate, but diplomatic efforts are continuing to try to find a peaceful and lasting solution to this regional conflict which threatens the stability of the region.
It is important for all stakeholders involved to prioritize dialogue and cooperation in order to find viable and lasting solutions to preserve peace and security in the region.
While awaiting further developments, it is essential to closely monitor developments in this situation and hope for positive progress in the upcoming negotiations.
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