In an interesting twist of events, DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi came out on Thursday, October 9, and said he would "extend a hand" to his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, "so that we can make peace."

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Speaking at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Tshisekedi, who has previously called for regime change in Rwanda and pledged to declare war on the neighbouring country over alleged support to the AFC/M23 rebels, made a U-turn.

"At no time have I displayed any belligerent attitude whatsoever towards Rwanda or Uganda or any other of our nine neighbors," the Congolese leaders said at the key meeting convened by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

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But the Rwandan government was not flattered by Tshisekedi&039;s words. It has fact-checked the Congolese leader by highlighting his own public threats to Rwanda and its leaders. Rwanda also highlighted the role of Tshisekedi's government in eastern DR Congo's 30-year conflict, which has produced hundreds of thousands of refugees, including about 100,000 who live in Rwandan camps.

[The President of DR Congo] has repeatedly and publicly used hostile rhetoric against Rwanda, particularly during his re-election campaign, where he called [the President of Rwanda] "Hitler” and threatened to declare war against Rwanda [and] bragged about DRC drones and bombing Kigali," the Rwandan government wrote in a post on Thursday.

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"He pledged to &039;work with enemies of Rwanda' to overthrow [the Government of Rwanda] and 'liberate the Rwandan people'. The hostile and belligerent attitude has been in constant display by [Tshisekedi] at every regional and international forum, including calling for hardline measures and sanctions against Rwanda at the UN General Assembly."

The fact-check page noted that this is the "same attitude of scapegoating by DRC officials in every international forum, no matter the topic."

10 peace agreements

Over the past decades, Rwanda and DR Congo have signed multiple agreements meant to restore peace and security in eastern DR Congo and ensure stability in the Great Lakes Region. The most recent one is the US-brokered peace agreement signed in Washington D.C. on June 27. Although it is in its implementation phase, officials said progress is slow.

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The agreement is about two main issues: the neutralisation of the FDLR, a Kinshasa-backed militia founded by remnants of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and the lifting of Rwanda's defensive measures put in place amid the security threats from eastern DR Congo.

"Since 1999, more than 10 peace agreements have been reached and signed but never implemented because of lack of political will by [the President of DR Congo] and insistence by his government to pursue a military solution."

"The [Congolese] government has mobilized and encouraged dehumanizing speech, persecution, ethnic cleansing and exile of some Congolese communities within the DRC, with the blame being placed on Rwanda."

'The ship has sailed'

The Rwandan government also noted that Kinshasa had started targeted campaigns against Rwanda and its leaders and detained Rwandan nationals, some of whom died in detention.

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It noted Kinshasa's attempted sabotage of Visit Rwanda international sports partnerships.

"Rwandan citizens have been arbitrarily arrested, detained and tortured in Kinshasa prisons. At least two have been confirmed dead in detention. [DR Congo] closed its airspace to civilian flights originating in Rwanda. Numerous frivolous cases brought against Rwanda, attempts at "forum shopping”.

Rwanda also noted at least 20 cross-border attacks and Rwandan airspace violations since 2019, including shelling in late January 2025 on Rubavu (Western Rwanda) by the Congolese army and its coalition that killed 16 Rwandan civilians.

While Tshisekedi said he and Kagame are "the only two capable of stopping this escalation," the Rwandan government said, "that ship has sailed."

It added that only Tshisekedi is capable of stopping the escalation "by focusing on doing what needs to be done, through the existing peace mechanisms."

"Rwanda has already tried repeatedly to resolve obstacles to peace bilaterally, particularly the security threat of the DRC-backed FDLR but the DRC decided to pursue a military solution, calling in foreign troops and mercenaries to get involved in its internal conflict, and targeting Rwanda.

Peace talks with AFC/M23

Besides the peace agreement signed with Rwanda, the Congolese government is also engaged in Qatar-mediated peace talks with the AFC/M23 rebel movement, which controls swathes of territory in eastern DR Congo.

The two parties failed to reach a peace agreement in August, and their negotiators are expected to return to Doha on October 13. Despite a ceasefire agreement signed in Doha on July 19, fighting is still ongoing in North and South Kivu provinces, with the rebels accusing the government of carrying out air strikes on civilian areas.

[The President of DR Congo] has repeatedly failed to do the right thing. Peace in the DRC will be achieved by committing to negotiations with AFC/M23 Congolese rebel movement that the DRC agreed to participate in through the ongoing Doha process," Rwanda said.

"De-escalation is within [Tshisekedi's] hands, by neutralizing the FDLR, disarming/demobilizing Wazalendo militia and stopping the accumulation of thousands of hostile Burundian army troops that have flooded South Kivu – all focused on working with the FARDC to violate the ceasefire, and attack civilian settlements."

The Rwandan government added: "The endless scapegoating and appeals by the DRC for sanctions against Rwanda are not a solution and will not bring peace, neither will the incessant mediation shopping. Rwanda will not compromise its national security because of threats of sanctions. The DRC must focus on implementing existing peace agreements, and concluding negotiations in the Doha process."