Regional
Rwanda-DRC: Kagame speaks out on Luanda roadmap, says he won’t engage in loose war talk
President
Paul Kagame says Rwanda is still hopeful for a peaceful and amicable solution
to resolve the conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
under the mediation of President João Lourenço of Angola, but added that he
will not be drawn into loose war talk.
The
Head of State, speaking in an exclusive interview with France 24, two days
after the meeting with his Congolese counterpart, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi, in
Angola, shed light on the outcomes of the ‘Luanda Roadmap’, point out that the
cessation of hostilities which was agreed upon applied to all parties involved
in fighting, not just M23.
He
pointed out that the meeting in Luanda was a breakthrough in finding a solution
and will deliver results.
“To
begin with, I don’t think anyone is interested in tensions or conflicts or
crises. So, it’s on that backdrop that I’m happy that we even agreed to meet,”
President Kagame said, adding that they had a good discussion and looked
forward to making progress.
Asked
if he thinks DRC will follow through and act on what was agreed upon or it will
be another meeting of talking, Kagame says he hopes and wants to see action
towards resolving the situation.
“That’s
what I want to see happen. We’re talking, which is good, but may not be good
enough but it is what you need to start with. The fact that we talked, I think
is good and you kind of build on that for tangible results,” President Kagame
said, describing it as another step forward.
On
the ceasefire
President
Kagame also spoke about the ceasefire which was discussed in Angola, which did
not hold, with fighting resuming within hours after the meeting. DRC accused
M23 and Rwanda of not adhering to the Luanda Roadmap.
The
Head of State pointed out that there are many factors that play into the
de-escalation of tensions which must be addressed, rather than engaging in
blame games and accusations.
“I
don’t think we need to dwell on blame games. I don’t think the accusations are
one way. They are general…maybe one would expect that. Much as we discussed and
agreed on many things, it seems there are circumstances on the ground, where
maybe people are not exactly in control of what happens,”
“So,
putting in place instructions and making sure that they are adhered to might be
a problem, maybe it takes time. Maybe it takes a few days, or a week and so
on,” President Kagame said, adding that the most important thing is to commit
at the top that these instructions are adhered to.
President
Kagame however added that the issue of cessation of hostilities was
miscommunicated or instructions were distorted or lost in translation.
“Let
me just make a small correction, which I thought would have been obvious. In
fighting, there are different parties involved, it’s not one party. So, talking
about ceasefire refers to parties fighting. It is not M23. It is M23 and those
they are fighting against. That is what it means,” he said, directly
contradicting what was communicated by the Congolese Presidency.
He
pointed out that in normal circumstances there should be people on the ground
to ensure that the agreed instructions are adhere to but they are not there at
the moment.
Tshisekedi
war declarations
President
Kagame for the first time spoke about President Tshisekedi’s recent declaration
in an interview with Financial Times, that DRC has not ruled out a potential
war with Rwanda, stating that he won’t engage in lose war talk like his
Congolese counterpart.
“I
don’t feel comfortable, so loosely, talking about war,” President Kagame told
France 24, adding that Tshisekedi never said it to him in Luanda.
“He
didn’t tell me but I saw it in the Financial Times. I’m just saying for me, I
don’t so easily and carelessly anticipate war or even look forward to it. So,
let’s put that aside,”
“The
reason we were in Angola is to make sure that any misunderstanding, any
conflict, any tension is resolved amicably, not through war or fighting,” he
said.
On accusations of Rwanda supporting M23
President Kagame spoke out on the accusations of
Rwanda supporting M23, stating that he is always surprised how different
parties, including the U.S, are quick to accuse Rwanda in the conflict in Congo
but are silent on Rwanda’s concerns, particularly the issue of FDLR.
“They are silent deliberately on issues of FDLR that
have been there for the last 25 years…They are even silent about the bombings
into our territory by Congolese army,” he said, adding that those who accuse
Kigali want to create an impression that Rwanda is the troublemaker.
He said that the same people were silent about the
infiltration of FDLR in Rwanda in November 2019, in the northern part of the country,
causing mayhem.
“If you’re talking about provocations, how do you
decide to shell across the border into the population?” President Kagame said,
reiterating that when there are many parties involved in a conflict and you
continue singling out one, you are the one with the problem, not the one you
are accusing.
President Kagame said that the issue of FDLR has been
talked about for many years with no action, warning that those who think this
problem of FDLR will remain for forever, with no consequences for their action,
are not serious.
On accusations of backing M23, President Kagame said
M23 is not Rwanda’s problem.
“These are not Rwandans and we don’t need them for
anything. Second, the history of these M23 people is well known, has been
discussed with President Tshisekedi himself and the Government of Congo and so
on,”
“These are not people who came from Rwanda and how Congo makes that problem of M23 a Rwandan problem is something I can’t understand,” President Kagame pointed out.
Source: www.ktpress.rw