The reason cited was an alleged unexpected demand by Rwanda to engage in direct talks with M23 rebels, a claim firmly denied, stating that this issue had been consistently discussed since August 2024.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, who participated in ministerial-level discussions aimed at resolving the years-long conflict in eastern DRC and easing tensions with Rwanda, dismissed the claims by Tshisekedi's office as blatant lies, saying the truth speaks for itself.
The DRC alleged that Rwanda raised the issue of direct talks with M23 on December 14, 2024, just a day before the two presidents were scheduled to meet.
However, Rwanda released a statement on December 15, clarifying that the summit ended without concrete resolutions because DRC refused to engage with M23, thereby nullifying the possibility of signing a peace agreement.
Minister Nduhungirehe further responded via social media that the M23 issue had not been unexpectedly introduced by Rwanda but was initiated by the mediator, Angola, which had included it in a draft peace agreement presented to both Rwanda and DRC presidents on August 11 and 12, 2024.
Following this, Angola, as the mediator, invited M23 representatives to Luanda between August 31 and September 3, 2024, where M23's Secretary-General, Benjamin Mbonimpa, elaborated on the political grievances that prompted the group to take up arms.
During the fourth ministerial meeting on September 14, 2024, held in Luanda, Rwanda reiterated its call for direct political talks between the DRC government and M23 to find a sustainable solution to the conflict. This request was documented in the meeting's resolutions.
The issue of talks between DRC and M23 resurfaced in a virtual meeting on November 26, 2024, involving foreign ministers from Rwanda, Angola, and DRC. At the meeting's conclusion, the mediator requested Rwanda to submit its stance on the matter in writing.
The following day, November 27, 2024, Rwanda sent the requested document, proposing that "the government should engage in direct political talks with M23 to address the root causes of the conflict and find a lasting solution."
On November 28, 2024, the mediator informed the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Rwanda and DRC that Angolan President João Lourenço had confirmed the M23 issue as the primary obstacle to finalizing the draft peace agreement.
In a letter dated November 29, 2024, Rwanda maintained its position, stating that it would not sign any peace agreement unless it included a provision requiring the DRC government to hold direct talks with M23 within a specified timeframe.
The mediator informed Rwanda on November 30, 2024, that DRC had agreed to engage in talks with M23 under the framework established during the Nairobi discussions.
However, despite this commitment, DRC subsequently engaged in international media campaigns portraying itself as ready for dialogue with Rwanda to restore peace in its eastern regions and resolve the nearly three-year-long tensions.
The DRC also pledged to collaborate with Rwanda in dismantling and repatriating fighters of the FDLR, a terrorist group, but unexpectedly became the reason for delaying the peace agreement that was to be signed by both countries' leaders.
Since resuming hostilities against the Congolese army in late 2021, M23 has consistently expressed its desire for talks to address grievances, including the persecution of Tutsi Congolese.
The DRC had initially agreed to negotiate with M23 and other armed groups operating in its territory under a roadmap established by East African Community leaders during a summit in Nairobi in 2022.
M23 representatives initially participated in these talks but were expelled on the second day by Serge Tshibangu, a special envoy of President Tshisekedi, who accused them of reigniting the conflict.
The rebel group has since argued that excluding them from the Luanda talks is unjust, maintaining that it will not recognize any decisions made without their involvement.
IGIHE
