'I told President Tshisekedi multiple times, 'The only way to end this conflict is through dialogue,'' Lourenço said in an interview with Jeune Afrique following the capture of Goma by the M23 rebels. 'But each time, my advice was met with resistance.'
Lourenço warned that the conflict in eastern DRC risks spreading across the region without dialogue to address M23 grievances on, among others, persecution and marginalisation of Congolese Rwandophones.
'We cannot allow this war to escalate further. Every effort must be made to stop it,' he emphasized.
Reflecting on Angola's own history, Lourenço drew parallels between the DRC crisis and Angola's past conflicts.
'Even when we faced aggression, we sat down with our enemies. We negotiated with South Africa's apartheid-era military and reached the 1988 New York Agreement,' he said.
'We also engaged in talks with UNITA to bring peace to Angola. Why should the DRC be any different?'
According to Lourenço, the December ministerial meeting between Rwanda and the DRC had made significant progress, with Rwanda agreeing to lift defensive measures and the DRC committing to dismantling the FDLR. However, he stressed that further steps were still needed.
'We must build on that progress and work toward a peace agreement signed by both leaders,' he urged.
As he prepares to assume the chairmanship of the African Union, Lourenço reaffirmed his commitment to resolving the crisis, stating that appointing a mediator for the Rwanda-DRC conflict would be a priority.
'Tshisekedi must understand that there is no other way,' Lourenço concluded. 'If we truly want peace, we must be willing to talk.'
IGIHE
