President Kagame Discusses M23 Issue and Regional Security
President Kagame stated that the M23 issue is easy to resolve, but it becomes difficult when some leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) seem to be more focused on appearing in photos than addressing the real issue. He made these remarks during a press conference on Thursday, January 9, 2025. The conference, held at the Kigali Convention Centre, covered topics related to the country’s overall well-being, foreign relations, and more.
President Kagame explained that the security challenges in eastern DRC are issues that concern not only Congo but also the East African region, the African continent, and the entire world.
He said, “The problem in eastern Congo, as I have explained before, is not just a problem of Eastern Congo, but of the whole of Congo, our region, our continent, and the world. Yet, it is always seen as just an Eastern Congo problem.”
President Kagame pointed out that the problems in eastern Congo stem from the country’s history as well as Africa’s history, but also involve the entire world, including powerful countries dating back to the colonial era.
He added that the M23 movement is made up of Congolese citizens, and the reason they are fighting against the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo is not because they like war, but because they are fighting for their rights.
He asked, “Why are they fighting? Why do we have over 100,000 refugees from this region in Rwanda? Why do we have refugees here? Is it because Rwanda wants refugees and has called them to come here? As I mentioned in the first question, why is M23 fighting? Is it because they like fighting?”
President Kagame emphasized that members of the M23 movement should not be associated with Rwanda because most of them have been in Congo due to historical reasons.
He said, “It’s not that they came from Rwanda. What I’m saying is that Congo found these people there, and it’s related to colonial history, which is why Congolese leaders, at one point, admitted that these are Congolese. But later they try to find excuses, claiming that the fighting is supported by Rwanda. But they cannot say that those who started this fighting, those who were fighting, came from Rwanda. They did not come from Rwanda.”
President Kagame mentioned that the security issues in DRC can be resolved, but a clear path must be followed.
He said, “We have strategies and leaders who lead them, but the most important thing for them is to appear in front of the camera and sign certain agreements, and then it ends there. They leave the real issue and move on.”
He discussed his participation in the Nairobi and Luanda talks aimed at finding a solution to the insecurity in DRC, but noted that these efforts ultimately failed because no meaningful results were achieved.
President Kagame also recently failed to attend the Luanda talks, which were meant to bring him together with FĂ©lix Tshisekedi of DRC on December 15, 2024.
He said, “I realized that being there or not being there makes no difference; it doesn’t solve the problem.”
He pointed out that such talks end with leaders shaking hands, but the problem itself is not solved.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 movement, while Rwanda asserts that the DRC is harboring fighters from the FDLR terrorist group, composed of survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
