On Monday, September 22, Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of delaying the implementation of a peace agreement signed by Kinshasa and Kigali in Washington in June.
“Rwanda pretends to have withdrawn its troops but in reality, Rwandan troops continue to be present on Congolese soil and to support the M23,” Tshisekedi said, referring to the Rwandan-backed armed group that made rapid gains in eastern DRC earlier this year.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Tshisekedi added, “Kigali is trying to gain time for the crisis to worsen. We, from our side, are ready to make peace.”
The president also hinted that DR Congo is seeking greater security cooperation from Washington in exchange for a stable supply of metals used in electronic devices and batteries, such as cobalt.
The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a region bordering Rwanda, is rich in natural resources but has been plagued by violence from non-state armed groups for over three decades. Since resuming arms at the end of 2021, the M23 armed group, backed by Rwanda, has seized significant territory in the region, fueling a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Earlier this year, the M23 captured key cities including Goma and Bukavu, establishing their own administrations in the occupied areas.
In response, the Congolese government and the M23 signed a declaration of principles on July 19 in Qatar, which included a commitment to a “permanent ceasefire” aimed at halting hostilities. This followed a separate peace deal between the Congolese and Rwandan governments signed in Washington in June.
Earlier this month, Rwanda criticized Human Rights Watch after the group published a report using satellite data that appeared to show an expanded military graveyard during months of conflict in neighboring DR Congo.