After various discussions aimed at finding a solution to the security crisis in eastern Congo, the 14th of September was expected to provide a broad way forward, as an agreement was set to be signed to address the issue. This agreement included measures to dismantle the FDLR, thereby allowing Rwanda to reduce its defense strategies along its border with the DRC.
The talks concluded, and both parties reached the stage of signing the agreement, with Rwanda represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, and the DRC represented by its Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner.
The agreement was the outcome of intelligence discussions between both sides, which had proposed ways to eradicate the FDLR, a major security threat to the Great Lakes region in general.
However, just before signing, this DRC official consulted with advisors and changed her mind, stating she would not sign the agreement.
Minister Nduhungirehe said, “We were ready to sign… but the Congolese Foreign Minister refused. She first commented on the report [containing the agreement], then after consultations, she returned and told us she couldn’t sign what was in the report.”
In an interview with the BBC, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner explained that although DRC’s institutions had participated in drafting the agreement, her ministry, which is responsible for overseeing the discussions, disagreed with certain aspects.
She said, “There was an agreement presented [for approval], but we haven’t reached the point of accepting or rejecting it. The key thing is that when we reach that point, there are steps we must take first. The significant progress made was the agreement to cease hostilities.”
Wagner also returned to accusations claiming that Rwandan troops should withdraw from Congo, allegations Rwanda has consistently denied. This issue worsened because the DRC government has, at times, labeled the M23 as its own citizens, leaving many puzzled as to why it later refers to them as Rwandan forces.
This inconsistency in DRC’s stance is evident in how it makes decisions, only to later contradict itself, an example being the situation with MONUSCO.
The UN peacekeeping mission had been rejected by the DRC government and asked to leave the country, but later, Minister Wagner was heard saying they were “reassessing” MONUSCO’s presence, signaling a change in Congo’s position on whether they still wanted these troops to leave.
Wagner explained that in South Kivu, MONUSCO might withdraw since security had been restored. “All MONUSCO military bases have been closed, and there has been a handover of authority between MONUSCO and the Congolese government. We have decided to maintain and protect the security we’ve achieved in South Kivu and build upon it.”
She emphasized that the government she works for is still figuring out how to ensure security even in MONUSCO’s absence. “We want to be prepared so that whenever MONUSCO leaves, no security vacuum is left behind.”
However, she admitted that MONUSCO could not be withdrawn from North Kivu, saying, “In North Kivu, it’s still difficult. It would be challenging for MONUSCO to leave given the current situation, and that’s why we wouldn’t want them to leave. But looking at the situation in North Kivu, it’s hard to see MONUSCO withdrawing.”
When asked about the root causes of the insecurity in the eastern part of her country, a region that has been in conflict for over 20 years and is home to more than 200 armed groups, including the FDLR, which collaborates openly with the Congolese government, Wagner remained evasive.
Meanwhile, Angola, as a mediator in these talks, continues to make efforts to bring both sides back to the negotiating table. Its Ambassador to the United Nations, Francisco José da Cruz, informed the Security Council on September 30 that representatives from both countries might meet again in early October 2024.
He said, “The next ministerial-level meeting is expected in the first half of October 2024, aiming to reach a consensus that could lead to a summit of the heads of state to sign a permanent peace agreement and restore bilateral relations.”
France has also made efforts, as during the summit of Francophone nations (OIF), President Emmanuel Macron tried to mediate between the two sides but ultimately failed.
He noted that “it remains extremely difficult to bring the two sides together,” emphasizing that more effort is needed to find common solutions.
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