The Congolese president, who has been battling the M23 rebellion for more than three years, made the remarks on Saturday, August 30, during a congress of the ruling Union Sacrée coalition in Kinshasa. His comments come amid renewed clashes in the east, where AFC/M23 rebels continue to hold large areas under their control.
Tshisekedi’s stance could undermine regional and international peace efforts his government has already committed to, including the Washington peace deal with Rwanda signed in June and the Qatar-mediated Doha talks, which resumed on August 19 after both parties missed an earlier deadline to finalize an agreement.
“The Congolese do not need a facilitator,” Tshisekedi told cheering supporters, adding, “There will never be any dialogue outside of our own initiative.” He further stressed that Congo’s challenges should be resolved internally, remarking: “All these well-meaning efforts encouraging dialogue are appreciated, but we must be left to manage Congo’s problems among Congolese.”
His uncompromising tone marked a setback for hopes raised earlier this year when the Doha negotiations — the first direct talks between Kinshasa and the rebels in over three years — suggested a path toward ending the decades-long conflict.
“We must fight until our last breath,” Tshisekedi declared, accusing neighboring countries of backing the insurgents.
The remarks drew a sharp response from AFC/M23 leadership. Bertrand Bisimwa, deputy coordinator of the group, said on Sunday that Tshisekedi’s position jeopardizes the peace process and fuels insecurity. “The contempt expressed by Mr. Tshisekedi towards the Doha dialogue explains the outbreak of generalized war on all front lines and the intolerable climate of hatred and xenophobia currently threatening our populations in Uvira,” Bisimwa wrote on X.
The rebels accuse the government of failing to honor the Doha Declaration of Principles, signed on July 19, which included commitments to a ceasefire and the release of prisoners.