DR Congo’s minister of defence Guy Kabombo has repeated President Felix Tshisekedi’s threats to attack Rwanda. In a post on X, Kabombo said on Tuesday that Tshisekedi had given “guidance” on the operations of the Congolese army, including “the annexation of Rwanda”. Tshisekedi has, on various occasions, threatened to attack Rwanda, which he accuses of supporting the M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo. Rwanda dismisses the allegations and denounces the collaboration between the Congolese army and the FDLR, a militia linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. ALSO READ: Rwanda raises concerns over DR Congo arming FDLR, indigenous armed groups ALSO READ: New UN report exposes DR Congo’s continued use of FDLR as proxy During his campaign in 2023, Tshisekedi said he would declare war on Rwanda, if re-elected. In December 2022, he claimed Rwandans “needed” his “support to liberate themselves,” comments that analysts called an attack on Rwandan leaders. Rwanda has repeatedly called on the Congolese government to address the conflict in eastern DR Congo through political means, which would lead to lasting peace. Despite regional peace mechanisms such as Luanda and Nairobi processes, Kinshasa has opted for military operations.
