Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe stated on Saturday that his Congolese counterpart declined to sign a previously agreed deal aimed at resolving the M23 rebel conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has displaced over 1.7 million people.
The Tutsi-led M23 has been conducting an insurgency in the violence-ridden eastern region of the Central African nation since 2022. Congo, the United Nations, and other entities have accused Rwanda of providing military support to the group.
Rwanda denies these accusations and claims it is only taking defensive measures, while accusing Congo of collaborating with the Hutu rebel group, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which has targeted Tutsis in both nations.
In late August, both countries participated in negotiations aimed at alleviating the ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the conflict, which has raised concerns about a broader war.
Nduhungirehe stated that delegates, including Congo’s head of military intelligence, had agreed on a plan to neutralize the FDLR and allow Rwanda to relax its defense measures.
This agreement was scheduled to be signed by ministers on September 14, according to Nduhungirehe, who spoke during a summit of French-speaking leaders in France.
He stated, “We were ready to sign, but the Congolese minister refused. She first commented on the report, and later, after consulting, she informed us that she opposed adopting it.”
Nduhungirehe explained that the plan called for actions against the FDLR to be implemented first, followed shortly by Rwanda easing its defense measures. However, the Congolese minister objected to the sequence, insisting they should happen simultaneously.
A spokesperson for the Congolese government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Both countries’ leaders, Felix Tshisekedi of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda, were present at the summit in France, where French President Emmanuel Macron had suggested a three-way meeting. However, the two leaders ended up having separate private discussions with Macron.
