KIGALI, Rwanda – November 3, 2025 – In a blistering address to Congolese expatriates in Cairo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi leveled grave accusations against Rwandan President Paul Kagame, claiming Kagame harbors "belligerent and hegemonic" ambitions to carve up and annex the resource-laden eastern DRC. The speech, delivered Saturday and disseminated Sunday by Tshisekedi's office, underscores the fragility of multiple peace initiatives amid persistent violence involving the M23 rebel group, which Kinshasa, the United Nations, and Western governments accuse Rwanda of backing—a charge Kigali vehemently denies.
Tshisekedi's remarks, shared with students, traders, workers, and DRC military personnel training in Egypt, painted a dire picture of Rwanda's intentions. "His goal is to divide our country and occupy, or even annex, the eastern part, which is a land very rich in mineral and agricultural resources," the president declared, referencing the region's vast deposits of coltan, gold, cobalt, and other critical minerals essential for electronics and renewable energy technologies. He lamented a missed opportunity in December 2024 when Kagame allegedly skipped a Luanda summit mediated by Angola, thwarting a bilateral peace accord.
Despite the rhetoric, Tshisekedi emphasized Kinshasa's unwavering commitment to diplomacy. "We have succeeded in creating momentum in the international community that aimed to sanction Rwanda," he said, crediting this pressure for spawning parallel tracks in Doha (Qatar-mediated talks with M23) and Washington (U.S.-brokered DRC-Rwanda negotiations). He revealed that Doha discussions between the DRC government and M23 rebels—formally the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23)—are slated to resume this week. Upon their conclusion, Tshisekedi anticipates a Washington summit with Kagame to ratify two key pacts: a July 2025 Doha Declaration of Principles ceasefire between Kinshasa and M23, and a June 2025 U.S.-mediated Peace Agreement between the DRC and Rwanda.
The Washington Accord, signed June 27, 2025, by foreign ministers in the Oval Office under then-U.S. President Donald Trump's oversight, mandates respect for territorial integrity, cessation of hostilities, and economic cooperation on critical minerals. It includes provisions for disengaging forces, neutralizing the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)—a Hutu militia Rwanda cites as a security threat—and establishing a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism. Oversight committees have convened multiple times, with the third meeting on October 1, 2025, noting progress on prisoner exchanges but "slowness" in implementation.
Yet, ground realities belie diplomatic gains. Fighting persists in North and South Kivu provinces, with mutual ceasefire violations. A July 2025 Doha ceasefire deal, building on the Declaration of Principles, has frayed amid accusations of DRC army deployments and M23 offensives. UN experts report Rwanda maintains up to 4,000 troops supporting M23, enabling seizures of Goma (January 2025) and Bukavu (February 2025), displacing hundreds of thousands and exacerbating a humanitarian crisis affecting over 7 million internally displaced persons.
Rwanda offered no immediate official rebuttal to Tshisekedi's Cairo speech, but historical patterns suggest sharp dismissal. In October 2025, Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe branded similar accusations "political theatrics" and an "empty drum," urging Kinshasa to neutralize FDLR and cease hate speech. Kigali frames its actions as defensive against genocidaire remnants, while rejecting M23 ties despite UN-sanctioned evidence.
The conflict's roots trace to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, spilling ethnic tensions into DRC. M23, reviving a 2012-2013 rebellion, claims to protect Tutsi minorities from discrimination and FDLR threats. Critics, including Human Rights Watch, document M23 atrocities: unlawful killings, rapes, and child recruitment. Economic stakes are immense; eastern DRC holds 70% of global cobalt supply, fueling electric vehicle batteries. U.S. involvement ties peace to mineral access, with the Washington Accord promising investment frameworks.
Earlier escalations saw Tshisekedi liken Kagame to Hitler and threaten war, prompting Kagame retorts accusing Kinshasa of election delays via crisis exploitation. Regional mediators—Angola's Luanda Process, East African Community, Southern African Development Community—have yielded ceasefires that collapse amid mistrust. A March 2025 Doha meeting between Tshisekedi and Kagame yielded a fleeting truce call, but M23 advances continued.
Humanitarian fallout is catastrophic: over 900 deaths in January 2025 Goma clashes alone, mass graves, and aid blockades. UN peacekeepers (MONUSCO) and regional forces face attacks; South African troops suffered fatalities defending against M23.
As Doha resumes, stakes are existential. Tshisekedi's Cairo audience erupted in applause, reflecting diaspora fervor. On X (formerly Twitter), Congolese users hailed his resolve, while Rwandan accounts mocked "amateurish comedy." Analysts warn stalled talks risk broader war, drawing in Burundi, Uganda, or foreign mercenaries.
Tshisekedi closed optimistically: Kinshasa's diplomatic momentum has isolated Rwanda internationally. Yet, with M23 holding key cities and minerals flowing illicitly, peace hinges on enforcement. A planned November 13 Washington ratification—potentially before Trump—looms as make-or-break.
The Great Lakes region's stability, Africa's mineral future, and millions' lives hang in balance. As one Cairo student told reporters post-speech: "We pray for peace, but prepare for defense." Rwanda's silence speaks volumes; Kagame's next move may dictate war or accord.
