The President of Rwanda has once again put the conflict between the Kinshasa regime and the M23 into perspective, clarifying that talks between himself and Tshisekedi would not be the appropriate vehicle for resolution of the conflict in eastern DRC
The President of Rwanda, which the Kinshasa regime has for long turned into a convenient scapegoating for its acute failures, has – as ever – come out to put things into perspective. During an interview with Jeune Afrique, President Kagame laid bare the pretense and dangerous games being played by Tshisekedi and his cronies.
Concerning the Kinshasa regime’s persistent blame games against his country, Kagame made it categorically clear that the Kinshasa regime’s blame against Rwanda is quite redundant because if anyone should be blamed, it should be themselves.
“Why not blame the right people for this situation? If there are criticisms to be made of Rwanda, we accept them. But don’t ask me why Rwanda doesn’t deal with the problem of these people. That is not my responsibility. M23 members are Congolese citizens.”
Concerning Tshisekedi’s bias against the East African Regional Force (EACRF), the Rwandan president observed that the lull in the conflict that saw the M23 overrun the FARDC/FDLR and capture a big part of North Kivu is because of the timely intervention of the EACRF and the signing of the Luanda and Nairobi processes.
“With a ceasefire generally respected despite some clashes here and there, the Congolese authorities want to put an end to its presence. It’s surprising. Whatever efforts have been made so far, the Nairobi and Luanda processes are the only ones that have helped to calm things down,” the Kagame said. He also clarified that contrary to the pretentious expectations of the Kinshasa regime, the EACRF’s mandate is to create a buffer zone between the FARDC/FDLR and the M23 as well as fight the one who violates the ceasefire, which is not the same as fighting the M23.
“Those who advocate this are those who want to continue fighting and do not allow the political process to continue,” The Rwandan leader said.
On the attitude of the Kinshasa regime towards a political and diplomatic solution for the conflict with the M23, President Kagame stated that in order for the political process to take place, the Kinshasa regime must stop rejecting it. “If you do not want dialogue, as the Nairobi and Luanda processes provide, then what do you want? Leaders do not take responsibility. If they don’t want to talk, then what solution do they envision and where does it take us?
The president also had something to say to those who keep insisting that for peace to prevail in eastern Congo, the Rwandan president and his Congolese counterpart should sit and talk.
“Would someone who refuses to talk to their own citizens talk with me? Wouldn’t that be strange? I have always been willing to talk to him. We talked a lot together at one time, and the problems we had today were already at the heart of our discussions. Will talking to each other today simply for the sake of talking to each other solve our problems? Or should we talk to each other because there is a concrete opportunity to resolve the situation?
“Meeting just to talk to each other, we’ve already done it, a lot. I have always accepted it, and I have always been available for it. People say the problem is between Kagame and Tshisekedi, but it’s not that. Why would coming to talk to me be an obstacle to the discussions that the Congolese president must have on his side to solve the problems he has with his citizens?” President Kagame wondered.