Davos, Switzerland – Tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remained high as President Paul Kagame met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, January 16. The meeting comes amid ongoing accusations, airspace violations, and escalating conflict in the eastern DRC.
“Sustainable peace in the region” was the stated agenda, according to Rwanda’s official communications channel, Village Urugwiro. This echoes similar discussions held just two months ago when Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, visited Kigali. De-escalating tensions and addressing the root causes of the security crisis in the eastern DRC were key points then, as they remain now.
The crux of the issue lies in the M23 rebellion in the eastern DRC. The DRC accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, a claim Kigali vehemently denies, calling it a Congolese internal issue. Conversely, Rwanda accuses the Congolese army of collaborating with the genocidal FDLR militia, a concern shared by the US. The FDLR, formed by remnants responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide, continues to pose a regional threat, spreading hate speech and violence against Congolese Tutsi communities.
My conversation with Rwandan President Paul Kagame was part of our effort to urge all actors to commit to a diplomatic solution to the crisis in eastern DRC. pic.twitter.com/LkRakzrBP8
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 16, 2024Adding fuel to the fire are recent incidents, including airspace violations by Congolese warplanes and rocket attacks on Rwandan territory. The latest escalation on Tuesday saw three armed Congolese soldiers cross into Rwanda, two captured, and one killed after opening fire.
Rwanda urges Kinshasa to cease its alleged support for the FDLR, designated a terrorist group by the United Nations. The Eastern DRC, already volatile for nearly three decades and home to over 130 armed groups, remains on the brink of further instability.