Since the end of 2021, the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been under attack from the M23 rebel movement supported by Rwanda and its army, according to several United Nations reports. After having long deplored the silence of the international community in the face of what Kinshasa denounces as an “aggression” of its neighbor, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC, Christophe Lutundula, welcomes, in an interview with Le Monde, the new “tremor” diplomacy from the West. On February 17, the United States called on Kigali to withdraw its soldiers from North Kivu, terms echoed by France three days later. But Kinshasa expects more and demands sanctions against Rwanda.
We see a commitment to find a solution to the crisis imposed by Rwanda and put an end to this despicable aggression. It is an encouragement in the fight we are waging against the excessive ambitions of Paul Kagame and his country.
Despite all the pressure coming from all over the world, despite all the disapproval, Mr. Kagame is not moving, quite the contrary. In fact, statements are good, but taking action is even more meaningful and effective. Sanctions are needed against Rwanda. We have been asking the Security Council for this since the start of this umpteenth aggression [the M23 offensive, which Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting] against the DRC [in November 2021].
Impunity cannot be guaranteed for perpetrators of crimes against humanity, war crimes or against democracy. We must also target the economic forces which participate in illicit trafficking [in eastern DRC].
In Africa, Rwanda and its leader are the only ones who have decided to invade another African state, to send troops, to plunder its wealth, to cause the displacement of its citizens. A state which openly supports a terrorist movement to destabilize another state. All this violates international law and all the norms governing relations between States. We must therefore continue the work of sanctions.
It is not just this agreement on what the European Union calls strategic raw materials. There are also contacts for a security and military cooperation agreement. It’s a series of unfriendly gestures. The EU is complicit in the plunder of our resources and Rwanda’s aggression against our country.
We denounced this. This does not consolidate the mutual trust necessary in our partnership with the European Union. Fortunately, there are a certain number of Member States which are making their voices heard to dissociate themselves from what is happening at the level of the European Commission.
France is a decisive driving force of the European Union and international leadership as a member of the Security Council. But there are certain ambiguities which must be definitively resolved. We must move from declarations to actions, namely sanctions.
The balancing act which consists of both condemning Rwanda and at the same time giving the impression that you justify its aggression on Congolese territory by saying that the FDLR and certain Congolese officers are fomenting actions to destabilize Kigali. Our partners must be clear in their condemnation and in their actions.
We are stuck in the implementation of the Luanda and Nairobi processes accepted by the African Union and supported by the United Nations. The blockage is that Rwanda does not withdraw its troops from the DRC and that the M23 does not pre-canton its men, which was to open the way for the implementation of the disarmament, demobilization, community recovery and stabilization program.
We are therefore counting on the negotiating skills of Angolan President [and AU-appointed mediator] Joao Lourenço to obtain from President Kagame a precise and sincere withdrawal agenda. We are being attacked, our populations are suffering. It is our wealth that is being stolen.
Mr. Kagame needs to say exactly what the problems need to be resolved. Why is he in Congo? Until today, it’s artistic blur. We also expect from Luanda greater international mobilization on the diplomatic and financial levels to address the humanitarian issue. Otherwise, without a diplomatic solution, we are determined to defend the territorial integrity of our country.
The war and the Rwandan incursions have lasted for thirty years and during all this time our country has not had enough forces to recreate the entire security chain.
The deputy secretary general of the United Nations acknowledged that the M23 has more sophisticated weapons than those of MONUSCO [the blue helmets deployed in Congo]. Everyone knows that the Rwandan army is hyper-equipped.
As for the participation of the regional force [of the SADC, which is currently being deployed], it is governed by the mutual and automatic security treaties. We are not the first country in the world to use this type of instrument.
I do not know of any non-state armed groups engaged with the FARDC. The only group we know are the Wazalendo. Congolese who reject Rwandan aggression. Congolese who suffer in their flesh and their property the ravages of the Rwandan army. It is their right and even their constitutional obligation. The Congolese state has decreed general mobilization.
