Foreign minister Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe has emphasized Rwanda’s support for the resumption of political processes that address the root causes of the conflict in eastern DR Congo, ahead of the upcoming summit between the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). ALSO READ: EAC, SADC Presidents confirm participation in DR Congo conflict talks The 24th extraordinary EAC Summit held on January 29, proposed a joint summit with SADC to deliberate on the way forward regarding the worrying security situation in eastern DR Congo. The southern African regional bloc agreed to the meeting scheduled for February 7 and 8, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Speaking to France 24, a French state-owned publicly funded international news television network, on Wednesday, Nduhungirehe emphasized that Rwanda is pushing for a political solution to the security crisis in the eastern DR Congo as regional leaders meet in the EAC-SADC summit. He said: “The position of Rwanda is simple. Firstly, that there is a cessation of hostilities throughout the territories in eastern DR Congo and then that there is a resumption of political processes, mainly a dialogue between the M23 and the Congolese government to settle this issue once and for all by tackling the root causes.” The minister clarified that Rwanda understands the cause of the AFC/M23 rebellion as a movement fighting for the rights of a persecuted Congolese community which has been marginalized and is victim of ethnic cleansing and hate speech. There are documented massacres committed under the watch of foreign forces including the UN mission in the country (MONUSCO). The minister emphasized that Rwanda deployed its defense system across the border with its vast lawless neighbour to ensure its territorial security. The Rwandan military defended the country against rockets fired by the Congolese army (FARDC) coalition onto Rwandan territory – killing some people and injuring hundreds others – a few days before the rebels captured Goma, the capital of eastern DR Congo’s North Kivu Province. After the January 27 capture of Goma and restoration of normalcy, the rebel movement on February 3 declared a unilateral ceasefire. On February 5, they appointed new leaders for North Kivu Province. ALSO READ: Corneille Nangaa on M23 capture of Goma, FDLR and march to Kinshasa Nduhungirehe noted the ceasefire should have paved way for peaceful talks between the rebels and the Congolese government, but recent developments indicate that the cease fire was violated by the Congolese army and its allies. ALSO READ: EAC leaders urge DR Congo to ‘engage with’ M23 rebels Nduhungirehe stressed that Rwanda will only lift its defensive measures on the border when existing security threats are neutralized. The Congolese army has been supported by the SADC force, SAMIDRC, fighting alongside the genocidal FDLR militia, Burundian troops, and European mercenaries. A total of 288 European mercenaries who had been fighting alongside the Congolese army coalition arrived in Rwanda on January 29 and were given safe passage back home to Romania. “We were the only one country to alert the world about the use of these European mercenaries against international law and no one listened to us,” Nduhungirehe told the French Journalist. ‘We should remain positive’ When it comes to humanitarian support for the Congolese in eastern DR Congo, he said, Rwanda has been playing a role in ensuring a safe passage at Rubavu-Goma border for anyone offering aid. The border crossing has resumed operations until 7 p.m. Asked whether failure of peaceful conclusions from the summit could lead to war, Nduhungirehe emphasized that “we should remain positive since the two regional blocs that have been involved at one point or another, are coming together. “We have to stay positive on the outcomes, for a cease fire agreement and a decision of a political way forward that will allow us to get out of this crisis.” In early 2023, the EAC deployed a peace keeping force (EACRF) to implement and maintain a ceasefire between the M23 and the DR Congo government, which it successfully did between March and September that year. However, the Congolese government forced EACRF out and replaced it with a SADC force which is operating under an offensive mandate. The East African Community Regional Force with troops from Kenya, Burundi, Uganda, and South Sudan, begun withdrawing from DR Congo, in early December 2023, just over a year after it was deployed to support peace efforts for the country’s conflict-ridden east. ALSO READ: EAC Regional Force completes withdrawal from DR Congo The southern African regional bloc’s force that replaced the EAC force has collaborated with DR Congo’s army as well as militias like the FDLR and European mercenaries in an offensive against the AFC/M23 rebels.
