A planned summit scheduled for December 15 in Luanda, Angola, involving Rwandan President Paul Kagame, DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, and mediator Angolan President João Lourenço, has been postponed due to unresolved security issues raised by Rwanda.
According to Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the postponement was driven by ongoing security concerns, including threats of regime change by Congolese officials and the continued presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) in eastern DR Congo. The FDLR is a militia linked to the remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Stalemate at Ministerial Meeting
On December 14, a ministerial meeting was held in Luanda, attended by foreign ministers from Rwanda, DR Congo, and Angola. However, no consensus was reached on how to resolve the security crisis in eastern DR Congo, where the Congolese government coalition is engaged in conflict with M23 rebels.
The Rwandan Foreign Ministry stated that the talks failed to secure an agreement on direct negotiations between DR Congo and the M23 rebels to seek a political solution to the ongoing conflict. The Ministry emphasized that the summit “would not have resulted in an agreement, particularly in the context of continued threats by DRC officials, including the President, to pursue regime change in Rwanda.”
Rwanda also raised concerns about the “wider coalition of forces” operating alongside the Congolese army (FARDC) in eastern DRC, including European mercenaries, the Burundian military, Wazalendo forces, and the FDLR. The Rwandan government insists that serious action must be taken to address the FDLR threat, criticizing what it described as “games being played” around the issue.
Call for Meaningful Dialogue
The postponement allows for additional dialogue facilitated by Angola’s President João Lourenço and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who serves as a facilitator of the Nairobi peace process. Rwanda reiterated its readiness to participate in a summit that would produce “a serious and concrete path” to resolve the security issues once and for all.
“There are actions that the DRC can and must take for themselves without continually using Rwanda as a pretext for doing nothing,” the Rwandan Foreign Ministry asserted.
Angola’s Role in Mediation
The Angolan Presidency confirmed the postponement, noting that it was requested by “one of the parties” involved. Angolan President João Lourenço met with DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to discuss the next steps, but no new date for the summit was agreed upon.
This summit was part of broader regional efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern DR Congo, where tensions have been fueled by accusations from both Rwanda and DR Congo. The Nairobi process, facilitated by Kenyatta, and Angola’s mediation aim to foster peace and stability in the region.
The delay underscores the challenges facing diplomatic efforts to resolve the protracted crisis, with Rwanda calling for concrete action against the FDLR while DR Congo remains focused on its conflict with the M23. The next steps in this process are yet to be announced.
Source: TNT