President Tshisekedi open to meet Rwandan counterpart amid Congo instability crisis
In a bid to tackle the ongoing instability in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), President Felix Tshisekedi has expressed his readiness to meet with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
The initiative, facilitated by Angola acting as a mediator appointed by the African Union, aims to address conflicts in the Eastern DRC involving the M23 rebels and restore diplomatic relations between the DRC and Rwanda, The Citizen reports.
Accusations have surfaced, with the DRC alleging Rwandan support for M23 rebels, a claim vehemently denied by Kigali. The resurgence of the rebel group in late 2021 has intensified conflicts, resulting in humanitarian crises and the internal displacement of civilians.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has expressed deep concern over the situation, citing approximately 135,000 internally displaced people fleeing the town of Sake toward Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province in the DRC.
The area has witnessed heightened tensions with intense fighting between the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and M23 rebels.
While specific meeting dates remain undisclosed, the mediation efforts are indicators of the urgency of diplomatic solutions to alleviate the suffering of affected populations and establish a foundation for lasting peace in the region.
