During a press conference in Kinshasa, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, and his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir, addressed issues related to the security situation in eastern DRC, but also diplomatic relations with Rwanda.
At the heart of the debates, the path to resolving the dispute between Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, inaugurated in Luanda, found itself at the center of the discussions. Despite progress by the delegations of the two neighboring countries, recent statements by the Presidents have revealed persistent tensions.
Félix Tshisekedi described his Rwandan counterpart as “disruptive”, accusing Paul Kagame’s regime of fomenting unrest in the Kivu region. For the Congolese President, the crisis with Rwanda stems from the actions of a regime and not the Rwandan people, stressing that dialogue would be necessary to calm tensions.
For his part, Paul Kagame expressed the hope that the conditions imposed by Kinshasa, such as the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory, could be overcome. He also criticized the conditional approach to the discussions, calling for a more open and constructive dialogue.
In an attempt at mediation, Angolan President João Lourenco intervened to facilitate the resolution of the conflict. However, the recent positions taken by the two Heads of State suggest complex negotiations to come.
Relations between the DRC and Rwanda remain tense, fueled by reciprocal accusations and major security issues. The outcome of this situation remains uncertain, but the hope of lasting appeasement remains, conditioned by frank and constructive dialogues between the parties concerned.
This press conference marks an important step in the management of relations between the DRC and Rwanda, highlighting the need for a concerted diplomatic approach to resolve disputes and promote regional peace.
Carmel NDEO