EngInternational
Can DR Congo’s Tshisekedi isolate Rwanda diplomatically?
The
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has been
complaining about Rwanda’s strengthened diplomatic ties with Poland, Algeria
and the European Union, among others.
Tshisekedi
is pushing harder to isolate Kigali diplomatically; perhaps, not knowing that
Rwanda invests more and understands the importance of good relations with other
countries for development in the interconnected world.
Tensions
between Kinshasa and Kigali deteriorated ever since the resurgence of M23
rebels in late 2021. The Congolese government accuses the government of Rwanda
of backing the Congolese rebel group and plundering its mineral resources.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied the allegation. Congolese leaders have been asking
foreign countries to cut ties with Kigali.
In
February, DRC’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Algerian envoy to Kinshasa for
clarifications after Algeria’s Chief of Staff Gen Saïd Chanegriha visited
Rwanda.
On
February 19, the European Commission and Kigali signed a memorandum of understanding
for the exploitation of minerals, signaling a trend toward closer collaboration
rather than sanctions as Kinshasa expected. The agreement on what the EU terms
strategic raw materials angered Kinshasa. Congolese leaders claimed that the EU
is being complicit in what they call “exploitation” of their resources.
Congolese
Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya complained that as EU is an institution
that promotes and defends human rights, it should not have signed a memorandum
of understanding on sustainable value chains for raw materials with “a country
that does not have one.”
“The
Government expects from the European Union a clarification of this ambiguous
behavior while it continues to affirm its desire to contribute to the end of
the security crisis in the east as well as the illicit exploitation of our
natural wealth,” Muyaya said.
Kinshasa
also criticized Poland over its support to Rwanda as expressed by Polish
President Andrzej Duda during his trip to Kigali in February.
The
DRC’s Foreign Ministry referred to Poland’s move as “two-faced” and claimed
that the visit is proof that Poland allied itself with Rwanda, despite having
previously supported Kinshasa’s narrative that Rwanda allegedly supports the
M23. The Polish leader visited Rwanda for a state visit and declared that his
country would provide defense support to Kigali in the event of any attack.
Tshisekedi’s
regime has been blaming Rwanda for almost everything going wrong on DRC
territory. On different occasions, Kigali has denied accusations of supporting
the the M23. But Tshisekedi’s way of politics is based on allegations and blame
games.
Instead
of solving their internal problems, Congolese leaders opt to scapegoat Rwanda
for all their failures.
Given
the history of Rwanda, the country knows the value of peace and how to protect
it. Its experience from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is enough. Rwanda
invested in its relationships with other states, something that Tshisekedi
cannot destroy with his weakness.
Blaming
Rwanda for everything, or every problem, DRC faces adds no value or provides
no solution to issues.
