Kagame is a symbol of cowardice, says Kinshasa

The crisis between Kinshasa and Kigali has reached explosive dimensions, particularly following last weekend's events. Tensions escalated dramatically after Rwandan President Paul Kagame refused to meet his Congolese counterpart in Luanda on Sunday, even in the presence of Angolan President João Lourenço. The resulting exchange of statements has only heightened the suspense, as both sides lay out their grievances in a ping-pong-like manner. [Beto]

In a press release on Monday, Kinshasa responded sharply to what it described as "false" allegations from Kigali. The Congolese government laid out the facts behind Kagame's apparent sabotage of the Luanda tripartite summit. According to Kinshasa, Rwanda's stance reflects a fundamental incomprehension of the objectives of the Luanda process, a framework designed to resolve tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda under Angola's facilitation.

Kinshasa highlighted that the Democratic Republic of Congo had referred the M23 issue to the Nairobi process—a structure meant to address all Congolese armed groups. The Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that this does not imply direct dialogue or political recognition of the M23, nor any special treatment for the group. “This is explicitly clear,” she insisted.

However, Rwanda's insistence on direct dialogue with the M23, despite adhering to the Nairobi process principles in high-level meetings, reveals what Kinshasa calls a "blatant disregard" for these principles. The Congolese government noted that Angola's facilitation proposed addressing this issue at the summit, with Heads of State—Presidents Tshisekedi, Kagame, and Lourenço—discussing Rwanda's demands directly. "The DRC accepted this proposal, curious to hear Kagame justify imposing direct dialogue with a terrorist group on a sovereign state," the statement said.

Kinshasa's accusations against Rwanda grew sharper, asserting that Rwanda has been engaged in perpetual deceit about the process. The Congolese government went further, alleging that Rwanda not only describes its actions—murder, rape, and pillage of Congolese civilians—as "defensive measures" but also denies its citizens the right to mourn fallen soldiers, leaving them unnamed and unacknowledged.

Meanwhile, Rwanda, visibly cornered and struggling to maintain its posture, continues to unilaterally impose conditions, which Kinshasa sees as a desperate move to shift blame. “While Rwanda loses itself in delusional soliloquies, its actions speak louder than words,” the Congolese government charged.

For Kinshasa, Kagame's refusal to participate in the summit symbolizes "cowardice," an unwillingness to face regional leaders sincerely seeking a lasting peace. The statement concluded that Rwanda’s actions reveal a disregard not just for its neighbors but for the entire Great Lakes region's aspirations for stability.