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Kagame emphasised the need for the DRC government to take responsibility for its internal challenges.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has called on Congolese authorities to open negotiations with the M23 rebel group, which has recently seized several key towns in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The group’s continued territorial advances are exacerbating an already volatile situation in a region that borders Rwanda.
M23, one of the most prominent armed groups operating in the region, is among over 100 militia factions vying for control in eastern Congo, an area rich in valuable minerals. Last year, the fighting displaced over a million people, underscoring the devastating humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict.
Speaking on the current situation, Kagame emphasised the need for the DRC government to take responsibility for its internal challenges. “If the DRC government is not encouraged to take responsibility for its people and its country and everybody joins them to blame others for their problems, how do you expect Congo to address these problems that affect all of us?” he said.
The M23 rebel group has made significant territorial gains in recent weeks, capturing the towns of Katale and Masisi. The latter is located just 80 kilometers from Goma, the regional capital of North Kivu province. This expansion by M23 has sparked increasing tensions in the region.
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The Rwandan president also expressed confusion over how the conflict, initially sparked by Uganda-based rebels, has come to be framed as Rwanda’s issue. Despite Kagame’s calls for dialogue, the DRC government has consistently accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, a claim Rwanda denies. The Congolese government has also rejected Kagame’s suggestion to engage in talks with the group, further complicating efforts toward peace.
