Angola has proposed a meeting between Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi in a bid to address security concerns in the volatile eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
The conflict in DR Congo’s east has intensified recently, with clashes between the mostly Tutsi M23 rebels and Congolese forces resulting in the displacement of over 100,000 people, as reported by the United Nations.
Accusations have been leveled by DR Congo, the United Nations, and Western nations against Rwanda, alleging support for the M23 rebels—a claim vehemently denied by Kigali.
Angola’s Foreign Minister, Tete Antonio, announced the agreement for a meeting between Kagame and Tshisekedi following discussions in Luanda between Kagame and Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who serves as the African Union’s mediator.
The meeting aimed to address the root causes of the conflict and uphold peace efforts outlined in the Luanda and Nairobi processes, as highlighted by Rwanda’s presidency.
However, the meeting between the two leaders faces certain conditions set by Tshisekedi, including the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory, cessation of hostilities, and disbandment of M23 rebel strongholds.
Prior encounters between Kagame and Tshisekedi have been tense, as witnessed in their last meeting in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, where exchanges reportedly escalated to insults, according to diplomatic sources.
The resurgence of M23 rebels in late 2021, after eight years of dormancy, has exacerbated tensions in the North Kivu region, bordering Rwanda. The conflict has led to widespread displacement, with nearly seven million people displaced across DR Congo, including 2.5 million in North Kivu alone, as reported by the UN at the end of 2023.
