Latest news with #FélixTshisekedi
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Rwanda pulls out of Central African bloc over clash with Congo
Rwanda has announced its decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) following a diplomatic dispute over its alleged role in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda announced its withdrawal from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) after a dispute over its alleged involvement in the DRC conflict. Rwanda's foreign ministry expressed condemnation regarding ECCAS's decision to retain Equatorial Guinea as its chair instead of Rwanda. Efforts involving international mediation are ongoing to resolve tensions and foster peace in the region. Rwanda has announced its decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) following a diplomatic dispute over its alleged role in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. ECCAS, the 11-member regional bloc founded in the 1980s, was created to promote cooperation on security and economic development across Central Africa. Rwanda was meant to take over as the new leader of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), a position that moves from one country to another, according to Reuters. But at a meeting on Saturday in Equatorial Guinea, it was stopped from doing so. Instead, the bloc opted to retain Equatorial Guinea as chair, a move Rwanda's foreign ministry condemned as a breach of its rights. In a statement, Rwanda accused the Democratic Republic of Congo of 'instrumentalizing' ECCAS. It declared that it saw 'no justification for remaining in an organization whose current functioning runs counter to its founding principles.' The office of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi said in a statement that ECCAS member states had "acknowledged the aggression against the Democratic Republic of Congo by Rwanda and ordered the aggressor country to withdraw its troops from Congolese soil." Accusations fly as Rwanda denies backing M23 rebels Rwanda has been accused of supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern DR Congo. Earlier this year, M23 fighters captured two of the region's biggest cities, in an offensive that killed thousands and raised fears of a wider regional war. The governments of DR Congo, the US, and France have all pointed to Rwanda as backing the rebel group. Rwanda has repeatedly denied the allegations, claiming its military presence near the border is purely defensive. Meanwhile, efforts to broker peace have been ongoing, with African leaders, the United States, and Qatar involved in mediation attempts.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Joseph Kabila: DR Congo bans reporting on the ex-president
The Congolese government has banned the media from reporting on the activities of former President Joseph Kabila and interviewing members of his comes after Kabila returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo last month amid heightened tensions between himself and the government, led by his successor, President Félix authorities are pushing to prosecute Mr Kabila amid accusations of treason and alleged links to the M23 rebels which have been fighting the army - something he has previously denied. Breaches of the ban could result in suspension, said the head of DR Congo's media regulator, Christian Bosembe. Responding to the announcement by the regulator, known as the the Supreme Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC), an M23 spokesperson said the media outlets in parts of the country under its control would not abide by the has been no immediate response from Kabila, however, the secretary of his party, Ferdinand Kambere, rejected the ban, describing it as "arbitrary" on X. Kabila was last week seen in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, which is under M23 has been highly critical of the government after the senate voted to lift his immunity over his alleged support of the M23 Congo's neighbour, Rwanda has been accused of backing the rebel group, but Kigali denies this. Kabila, who has not yet been charged with any crime, launched a scathing attack on the Congolese government last month, describing it as a "dictatorship".A government spokesperson at the time rejected Kabila's criticism, saying he had "nothing to offer".Reacting to the announcement by the CSAC, activist and president of the African Association for the Defence of Human Rights, Jean-Claude Katende, said the ban constituted an "abuse of power", according to local media. Since returning to DR Congo after two years of self-imposed exile, Kabila's party has been posting his activities online, which include visiting civil society groups and local religious representatives in Goma. Additional reporting from BBC Monitoring. More BBC stories about DR Congo: What's the fighting in DR Congo all about?The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR CongoIs Trump mulling a minerals deal with conflict-hit DR Congo? Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
DR Congo ex-leader Joseph Kabila lashes out after immunity lifted for treason charges
Joseph Kabila, the ex-president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has lashed out at the government of his successor - calling it a "dictatorship".The 53-year-old made a 45-minute speech live on YouTube on Friday evening from an unspecified location a day after the Senate lifted his immunity from Congo's authorities intend to charge the former president with treason and war crimes, linking him to the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, who have taken control of several towns in the in power between 2001 and 2019, said he had broken his silence because he felt the unity of the country was at risk. Analysts say any trial of Kabila could further destabilise the country, which has been battling the M23 rebellion since government of President Félix Tshisekedi has not responded to the speech in which Kabila also set out a 12-point plan that he said could help end decades of insecurity in the mineral-rich east of DR Why are people talking about Kabila's return?What's the fighting in DR Congo all about?Dressed in a navy suit with a Congolese flag badge pinned to his lapel, Kabila stood before a lectern in what was termed an "address to the nation" - a broadcast topped and tailed by the national anthem. The YouTube link shared by his spokesperson has subsequently been deleted, but the recording has been shared by numerous other an ally of Tshisekedi, Kabila fell out with his successor and their parties' coalition formally ended in former president has been living outside the country for two years - he initially left to pursue a doctorate in South his speech, he hit out at "arbitrary decisions" taken by the government last month after "rumours" that he had travelled to the eastern city of prompted the authorities to ban his People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) and order the seizure of his all "testifies to the spectacular decline of democracy in our country", Kabila his speech, he did mention that he intended to go to Goma "in the coming days", where he is not in danger of arrest as the city has been under control of the M23 rebels since also hit out at the president for trying to undermine the constitution, at parliament for failing to hold the president to account and at the justice system for allowing itself to be "openly exploited for political end".He was critical of government's handling of the economy, corruption and public debt, which he said had "skyrocketed" to more than $10bn (£7.3bn).Kabila, a former general, was also disparaging about the government's handling of the security situation countrywide, especially the use of pro-government militias as "auxiliaries" of the armed forces."The national army… has been replaced by mercenary bands, armed groups, tribal militias, and foreign armed forces that have not only demonstrated their limitations but also plunged the country into indescribable chaos."He mentioned that one of these armed groups was the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an ethnic Hutu militia involved in the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and still active in eastern DR sees the presence of the FDLR rebels as an existential threat. Rwandan troops are currently in DR Congo in support of the M23, which is led by ethnic Tutsis who say they took arms to protect the rights of the minority urged the withdrawal of "all foreign troops" from DR Congo and welcomed a recent decision by Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to pull out troop that had been deployed to help the army fight the M23. After 18 years in power, Kabila maintained that the achievements he had made had been squandered."In record time - six years - we are back at square one: that of a failed, divided, disintegrated state, on the verge of implosion, and ranked high on the list of the most corrupt and heavily indebted poor countries," he to his address has been mixed, with some pointing out the irony that many of his criticisms of Tshisekedi's administration reflected those levelled at his own government."The dictatorship must end, and democracy, as well as good economic and social governance, must be restored," he said towards the end of the noted that the government had "finally resolved to sit around the same table" with M23 but felt other countrywide peace initiatives backed by the Catholic church should be Congo and Rwanda, which denies accusations it backs the M23, may be edging towards a peace deal to end the fighting, which has seen hundreds of thousands of civilians forced from their homes in recent two countries signed a preliminary agreement in Washington last month and said they had agreed on a pathway to peace. More from the BBC about the conflict in DR Congo: The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo'I risked drowning to flee conscription by Congolese rebels'Your phone, a rare metal and the war in DR CongoIs Trump mulling a minerals deal with conflict-hit DR Congo? Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Daily Maverick
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Ceasefire in the DRC: A glimmer of hope amid political turmoil and rebel expansion
Dynamics on the ground in eastern DRC and the country's capital will test Qatar's mediation efforts. On 23 April 2025, delegations from Kinshasa and rebel group M23's political affiliate, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), declared their intent to work towards a ceasefire and continue discussions on the root causes of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) conflict. The truce was brokered by Qatar, which started negotiations in March. The direct talks between M23 and DRC — which Kinshasa had consistently refused — and the joint declaration are positive steps. But they unfold against an increasingly fragile political landscape in Kinshasa, as President Félix Tshisekedi's reputation suffers and opposition forces use the rebellion to gain political ground. M23's significant territorial expansion in recent months poses a growing threat to stability in the DRC. After capturing key cities like Goma and Bukavu, the rebel group has established a parallel administration in areas under its control. Kinshasa has also lost most of its external military allies after the withdrawal of Southern African Development Community forces, Burundian troops and private security contractors. The government's position is now dire, as it relies on local armed groups as the main resistance against M23. Across the entire eastern region, insecurity is driven by the war's economic fallout, security gaps and rising activity of armed groups like the Allied Democratic Forces in North Kivu and militia factions in Ituri and South Kivu provinces. The crisis has triggered massive displacements in eastern DRC and neighbouring countries, particularly Burundi and Uganda, with more than 120,000 Congolese refugees arriving since January. Regional actors Complicating matters is the ambiguous role of regional actors. Uganda has expanded its military presence in North Kivu and Ituri ostensibly to address worsening insecurity and contain M23. Although the troops have stalled the rebels' northward advance, Uganda is probably more concerned with limiting Rwanda's presence in areas considered Uganda's sphere of influence. Some regional leaders, such as Kenyan President William Ruto, are sympathetic towards Rwanda and M23's grievances, while others criticise Rwandan support or prefer a more neutral position. Efforts to harmonise the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes have stalled, and dialogue hosted by Angola collapsed after the European Union sanctioned Rwanda and M23 leaders, including some negotiators. This opened the door to other international actors, with Turkey for example offering mediation support. But it was a surprise meeting in March between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Doha that revived prospects for negotiations. Qatar is now hosting the peace talks that produced this week's ceasefire announcement. Ensuring the truce holds and leads to a peace deal won't be easy. The process will be shaped by three factors driving power dynamics in the DRC. The first is continued armed mobilisation by both sides. To strengthen Kinshasa's military capacities, Tshisekedi's administration is recruiting soldiers nationwide and supporting armed groups under the Wazalendo ('patriots', in Swahili) banner. But recruitment campaigns won't solve the Congolese army's challenges of indiscipline, overlapping chains of command, poor service conditions and corruption. And mobilising armed groups could backfire, as Wazalendo forces increasingly fragment into competing factions — some of which are hostile to the government and even join M23. It is also difficult to neutralise the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), as some Wazalendo groups cooperate with FDLR and embed their combatants in their ranks. Many Wazalendo factions oppose negotiations with M23 and have violated previous ceasefire agreements, making compliance with the terms of any truce difficult for the DRC government. Bulwark At the same time, local militias remain the main bulwark against M23's control. This pushes M23 to continue recruiting fighters, with Rwanda's help. It also drives M23's continued expansion, along with political and economic motives. The second factor is political bargaining. The M23 rebellion is affecting national-level competition for political power, transforming a borderland insurgency into a direct challenge to Tshisekedi's position. The president has become increasingly reliant on political repression to maintain his grip. To boost his support, Tshisekedi released several political prisoners, including opposition leader and his former right-hand man, Jean-Marc Kabund. He also announced consultations on a government of national unity to face the crisis in the east. However, the opposition has largely rejected this plan in favour of a church-led initiative for a peace pact that includes M23. Some opposition figures are bent on using the M23 rebellion as leverage for regime change. Former president Joseph Kabila has re-emerged as a vocal critic of Tshisekedi, after being pushed out of his power-sharing arrangement in 2020. Former members of Kabila's party have joined the AFC, including South Kivu rebel governor Manu Birato. Reports suggest Kabila met with AFC leader Corneille Nangaa and recently visited rebel-held Goma. While unconfirmed, such speculation highlights how the rebellion has become currency for national-level political bargaining. Yet, despite Tshisekedi's failures, opposition figures like Kabila and Nangaa are not credible alternatives given their own political histories and links to corruption. Both M23/AFC and Kabila are primarily driven by a desire to reintegrate into the political system rather than reform it. And as more forces join the rebellion, the M23/AFC becomes an arena for political competition, which could cause it to fragment, like past rebel movements. So the AFC acts as a coordinating platform rather than a coherent organisation, intentionally remaining vague on its political agenda. Current negotiations with the Congolese government will test M23's cohesion, as the rebel group will have to balance various interests, including those of individuals and foreign sponsors. The third dimension is extraversion — which means entering into dependent relations with outside state actors to help consolidate power. Extraversion has long been part of eastern DRC's conflict landscape. M23's ties to foreign sponsors will weigh on negotiations, and competition between Rwanda and Uganda could affect internal rivalries. Vast mineral wealth To regain leverage, Tshisekedi is offering the United States access to the country's vast mineral wealth in exchange for security assistance. US President Donald Trump has appointed businessman and family member Massad Boulos as special envoy to the region, and a multibillion-dollar deal is reportedly in progress. However, this minerals-for-support strategy is unlikely to stabilise eastern DRC. The US will prioritise its own economic interests, while its humanitarian aid cuts — covering more than 70% of relief funding in the DRC — limit any benefit of new partnerships. As displacement and food insecurity in eastern DRC soar, peace talks must focus on an urgent ceasefire followed by agreements to reopen trade routes, establish humanitarian corridors and secure key areas. Lessons must also be learnt from past experiences. The 2002 Sun City Agreement was only possible after agreements on a comprehensive ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign forces were concluded. A similar roadmap is needed now. Ultimately, an inclusive Congolese-led process is vital to address the conflict's underlying causes. Yet, too often in the DRC, power sharing becomes an end in itself, fuelling violence and conflict down the line. Peace talks should avoid making similar mistakes. DM
The Guardian
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
DRC government and M23 make surprise truce to end fighting in east of country
The Democratic Republic of Congo's government and the Rwandan-backed M23 group have issued a landmark joint statement saying they have agreed to halt fighting in the east of the country while they work towards a permanent truce. The surprise announcement follows talks mediated by Qatar. The two sides said they had 'agreed to work towards the conclusion of a truce' in the conflict, which has seen the M23 seize key cities in the violence-battered region. More than six truces and ceasefires have been agreed and then collapsed again since 2021. UN experts and several western governments say the M23, which reignited the conflict in 2021, is supported by Rwanda. The Kigali government has denied giving military help. But a US envoy last week called on Rwanda to withdraw from DRC territory. The latest statement, read on DRC national television and released by an M23 spokesman, said: 'Both parties reaffirm their commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities.' They said the truce would apply 'throughout the duration of the talks and until their conclusion'. Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has been riven by conflict for three decades. The crisis has surged again in recent months with M23's new advance into the cities of Goma and Bukavu. Thousands have been killed and displaced in the course of the advance, raising fears of a wider regional war. DRC's president, Félix Tshisekedi, has long refused to hold direct talks with M23 or their political alliance, accusing them of working for Rwanda. Qatar caused a diplomatic surprise with its mediation effort. The negotiations started earlier in April. In early March, Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, held surprise meetings in Doha and later expressed their support for a ceasefire. Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari welcomed the joint statement by the DRC government and M23. The Gulf state urged the parties to work 'towards an agreement that aligns with the aspirations of the Congolese people for peace and development', he said. A source with knowledge of the meetings told AFP the talks in Doha had been 'constructive'. 'Both parties are now preparing for a deeper round of discussions to ... build the foundations for a comprehensive political settlement,' the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. 'Both sides are expected to return to Doha for further talks in the coming weeks.' Qatar has signed several economic cooperation accords with Rwanda and DRC, including to invest more than $1bn in a new airport near Kigali. Rwanda has never acknowledged a military presence in the DRC, but frequently highlights its security concerns on the border. It has demanded the eradication of ethnic Hutu militias in the DRC founded by Rwandan officials linked to the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
