Tshisekedi says Rwanda wants mineral-rich east DR Congo

Paul Kagame of Rwanda has been accused by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi of helping the M23 militia to seize the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in order to profit from its abundant natural resources.

Since resuming hostilities in 2021, the M23 has taken control of large areas of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo with Rwanda’s assistance, exacerbating the region’s already dire humanitarian situation and more than three decades of conflict.

During its quick onslaught, the armed group took control of the strategically important eastern cities of Goma and Bukavu, which are located just across the Rwandan border. It has taken over neighboring mines and established an administration there that runs parallel to the Kinshasa government.

Tshisekedi, addressing members of the Congolese diaspora in Cairo on Saturday, accused Rwanda of “bellicose and hegemonic” intentions in the DRC.

Kagame’s goal “is to divide our country and occupy, or even annex, the eastern part, which is very rich in mineral and agricultural resources”, he said, according to a statement from the Congolese leader’s office on X.

He also blamed Kagame’s failure to attend for the failure of the previous round of truce talks, brokered by Angola.

Since then, Kinshasa has signed a separate agreement with the M23 for a lasting truce, while the DRC and Rwanda have reached a pact mediated by the United States to end the violence.

However, despite the United States’ efforts and Qatar’s mediation, bloodshed in the east has not stopped.

Large reserves of important minerals, such as gold and coltan, are abundant in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Three decades of conflict between different armed groups and ethnic militias, occasionally involving international powers, have ripped it apart.

Although it denies any military backing for the M23, Rwanda contends that rebels connected to the 1994 Rwandan genocide who are active in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo pose an existential security danger to the country.