DRC president denounces Rwanda's "expansionist tendencies"

Tshisekedi accuses Rwanda of being behind a "cowardly aggression" and of supporting the "terrorist" M23

MADRID, 11 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, has denounced Rwanda's "expansionist tendencies" amid tensions over fighting between the Congolese Army and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group in eastern Congo. country.

"The year 2022 has witnessed the resurgence of Rwanda's expansionist tendencies, under the cover of the M23," said the president during his annual address to the nation, in which he defended the two-track adopted by the authorities in the fight over the terrain and openness to peace negotiations.

Thus, Tshisekedi, who has lamented the "aggravation" of the security crisis in the east of the country, has accused Rwanda of being behind a "cowardly aggression" and of supporting the "terrorist movement" of the M23, according to a transcript of his speech published by the Congolese Presidency.

"This particular context demands our responsibility, solidarity and cohesion", he said, while applauding "the professionalism and courage" of the Army, which "continues to carry out active combat on the ground".

Likewise, he has assured that the legislative elections will take place in 2023 "to consolidate a young democracy that is still young" and has argued that "respecting the electoral cycles is a requirement". "I launch a solemn appeal to all our people and the affected parties to get involved in an active, positive and constructive way in this electoral process," he concluded.

Tshisekedi thus responded to recent statements by his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, who accused him of stirring up tensions in the east to try to achieve a postponement of the elections.

Relations between the DRC and Rwanda have been in crisis since the mass arrival in eastern DRC of Rwandan Hutus accused of massacring Tutsis during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Tensions rose in May, when the Congolese government summoned the Rwandan ambassador to denounce the country's alleged support for the M23, something rejected by Kigali, which affirms that Kinshasa supports the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). -- a rebel armed group founded and composed mainly of Hutus responsible for the 1994 genocide in the African country -- to carry out attacks in Rwanda.

The M23 has been accused since November 2021 of carrying out attacks against Army positions in North Kivu, despite the Congolese authorities and the M23 signing a peace agreement in December 2013 after fighting since 2012 with the Army, with the support of United Nations troops. UN experts accused Uganda and Rwanda of supporting the rebels, although both countries denied this.