President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will not participate in a high-level crisis meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, state media reported Wednesday. The virtual summit, organized by the East African Community (EAC), comes as tensions rise following the alleged incursion of M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, into the Congolese city of Goma.
Rwanda has consistently denied accusations of supporting the M23 fighters. Despite Tshisekedi’s absence, Kagame is expected to attend the talks, his spokesperson confirmed to AFP. However, further details about the summit remain unclear.
International Calls for De-escalation
The international community has urged an immediate halt to the fighting, with the United Nations, the United States, China, and the European Union calling for Rwanda to withdraw its forces from eastern Congo.
Angolan President João Lourenço has also appealed for the “immediate withdrawal” of Rwandan troops and has called for an urgent tripartite summit in Luanda to address the ongoing conflict.
During a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, the DRC urged world leaders to take decisive action, calling on the international community to “have the courage to do what is right” in resolving the crisis.