Since the M23 rebel group resumed fighting three years ago, the DRC government has launched an international campaign accusing Rwanda of aggression and resource exploitation.
However, Rwanda has consistently denied these allegations, stating that it has not deployed troops in DRC and does not exploit its minerals, as it has its own mining resources dating back to the 1930s.
Recently, DRC has been lobbying international organizations and Western nations to impose sanctions on Rwanda across various sectors, a move viewed as useless by Sassou-Nguesso.
During an interview with France24 published on February 16, 2025, Sassou-Nguesso was asked whether he supports sanctions against Rwanda, as the DRC has been demanding for years without success.
"In times of conflict, each side tries to push its own narrative, but we believe the best approach is to initiate dialogue in one way or another," he responded.
The journalist, seemingly pressing for a more direct response, asked again, "So no sanctions?" "Sanctions have never solved any problem. The best course of action is to seek a genuine solution to the issue," Sassou-Nguesso replied. "
President Paul Kagame recently told Jeune Afrique that he is not intimidated by the threat of sanctions, stating that he would rather confront security threats head-on than fear external penalties.
"Some countries, like Belgium and Germany, former colonial powers, are trying to threaten us with sanctions simply because I am defending my country's rights. Do they think they can intimidate me? Let this be clear: If I have to choose between sanctions and defending my country's security, I will take up arms and fight against anything that seeks to harm us, regardless of sanctions," Kagame asserted.
Sassou-Nguesso also stressed that Africa's problems should be resolved by Africans themselves, without external interference from those who overlook the continent's realities.
"You cannot reject the support of Africa's friends and partners, but Africans must take the lead. We saw what happened in Libya. External partners sidelined African nations, but in the end, they realized that such a crisis could not be resolved without Africa's involvement," he explained.
Meanwhile, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi has adamantly refused to negotiate with M23. However, since January 2025, the rebel group has seized vast territories in North Kivu Province, including the city of Goma and Bukavu.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/sanctions-on-rwanda-won-t-solve-drc-crisis-sassou-nguesso
