On September 26, 2024, in New York, President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) addressed the United Nations General Assembly, calling for targeted sanctions against Rwanda. He reiterated accusations that Rwanda supports the M23 rebel group, which is active in eastern DRC. The latest UN expert report from July this year, which implicated Rwanda in supporting the M23, was met with ambiguity by Rwanda, which neither denied nor confirmed the allegations. Instead, Rwanda responded through the BBC, accusing the Congolese government of lacking the political will to resolve the crises in its eastern region, which have persisted for decades and are linked to the area’s rich mineral resources.
The M23 group, primarily consisting of ethnic Tutsis, claims that it is fighting for its rights as Congolese citizens, alleging discrimination and exclusion by the Kinshasa government. Rwanda, accused of backing this group, faces repeated criticism, especially following the UN’s claims of the presence of Rwandan soldiers supporting M23 operations within Congolese territory.
During his address to the 79th United Nations General Assembly, Tshisekedi urged the international community to impose specific sanctions on Rwanda, which he referred to as “sanctions ciblées” in French. Such sanctions typically include freezing financial assets, imposing an arms embargo, and restricting travel for targeted individuals.
Tshisekedi described Rwanda’s actions as a severe violation of Congolese sovereignty. He stated, “We urge the international community to firmly condemn these actions and to impose targeted sanctions on Rwanda for its role in destabilizing our country.” He also demanded an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese soil. According to the latest UN report, Rwanda has been accused of deploying around 4,000 troops in support of M23 in eastern DRC.
In response, Rwanda has accused the Congolese government of backing the Rwandan rebel group, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which opposes the Kigali government and operates in eastern DRC. This allegation has also been mentioned in various UN expert reports, though Kinshasa denies supporting the FDLR.
The ongoing conflict in eastern Congo has led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the region’s history, displacing nearly 7 million people internally. President Tshisekedi emphasized the gravity of this crisis during his address, citing the unprecedented human suffering it has caused.
Although Tshisekedi expressed his support for recent diplomatic efforts, including talks held in Luanda, Angola, aimed at restoring peace between Rwanda and the DRC, he insisted that such initiatives should not overshadow the “urgent need” for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops. He reiterated that his country remains committed to achieving lasting peace through a disarmament program and reintegration of armed groups, offering “economic and sustainable opportunities” to former combatants.
Despite these initiatives, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges. Last year, M23’s military leader, General Sultani Makenga, dismissed the idea of disarmament and reintegration, emphasizing that M23’s demands could only be addressed through political dialogue with the Kinshasa government—a stance that Kinshasa firmly rejects.
