This sentiment is echoed by President Tshisekedi, who continues to search for a justification for the persistent fighting between the Congolese Army (FARDC) and the M23 rebel coalition.
Since the signing of the agreements, the situation has drastically shifted. While the DRC initially engaged in the process with hope, it quickly escalated its fighting with the M23 and began accusing Rwanda of being the root cause of the tensions.
In a swearing-in ceremony for new officials held on Thursday, President Paul Kagame addressed the growing pressure on Rwanda to resolve regional security issues, emphasizing that each country involved must take responsibility for its role in the conflict, rather than placing the burden on one party alone.
At first, the DRC seemed to accept the agreements. However, after signing, the narrative quickly changed. The government accused Rwanda of continuing to support M23, further intensifying cooperation with Burundian forces and rebel groups like Wazalendo.
This shift in stance has led to a rise in violence targeting Tutsi Congolese and Banyamulenge, deepening the already fragile situation.
Fayulu's remarks reflect a growing discontent among many Congolese politicians, who believe the agreements are destined to fail. In an interview with France 24, Fayulu argued that the problem would not be solved by the agreements themselves but by imposing sanctions on Rwanda.
When asked why he believed Tshisekedi had been misled by Kagame, Fayulu responded, "I wouldn't say Trump worked with Kagame, but he wanted to sign an economic partnership agreement between the DRC and the United States. He succeeded."
Fayulu's comments suggest that the issue is being mishandled, as several countries, including Uganda, DRC, Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda, are involved and must all take responsibility for resolving the crisis. Despite this, Fayulu places the blame squarely on Rwanda.
Fayulu further argued that the failure to properly address the 2018 elections has contributed to the current situation. He claims that he was the true winner, but President Kabila chose Tshisekedi as the winner instead.
Although the DRC had been deeply involved in the peace process, signing the agreement with confidence, the government's rhetoric shifted after the signing. The DRC now claims that the agreement was "made for Rwanda's benefit," accusing Rwanda of manipulating the peace process. Rwanda, however, maintains that the real value of the agreement lies in addressing the root causes of the problem, which had been ignored for years.
Politicians in DRC and Tshisekedi's government continue to argue that the solution lies in M23 withdrawing from the territories it controls and returning to its original position. However, Rwanda and other parties believe this approach is flawed, as it would strip M23 of its rights as Congolese citizens who should not be excluded from national discussions.
Fayulu also dismissed the Doha talks between the RDC and M23 as ineffective, calling them a mistake. According to him, they have achieved nothing, and what's truly needed is a Kinshasa-based dialogue that involves Congolese citizens. He suggested that talks should include Kabila, Corneille Naanga (leader of M23), and othersâ€"figures previously accused of collaborating with Rwanda but now excluded by Tshisekedi's government.
Fayulu's position seems contradictory, as he now believes that figures like Kabila and Naanga, whom he previously accused of complicity with Rwanda, should be included in the peace talks.
IGIHE
