The eastern DR Congo has been mired in conflicts for decades, which have been characterized by violence against vulnerable communities, particularly the Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese, who have been systematically targeted. On several occasions, African leaders have echoed that part of the root causes of this conflict is the refusal of the Kinshasa government to recognize and equally treat with dignity the Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese in the eastern DR Congo. They also called for a political solution through dialogue with M23 rebel group that is said to be fighting for the protection of Congolese in this region –something that President Félix Tshisekedi has utterly refused. The New Times looks at different viewpoints of African leaders about ethnic tensions in DR Congo and why it’s wrong to sideline Rwandophones. Kenyan President Ruto During the African CEO Forum held in 2024, Kenyan President William Ruto said that there was a meeting where African Heads of State asked the Congolese President whether members of M23 rebel group are Congolese or Rwandans, and “DR Congo President said they are Congolese. End of question.” “So, if these are Congolese, how does it become a Rwanda problem?” said the President who doubles as the current Chairperson of the East African Community. Former South African President Mbeki While Speaking at the African School of Public and International Affairs, former South African President Thabo Mbeki took note that the problems in DR Congo have been going on for decades, stating that it is because part of the problem is that the Kinshasa government refused to recognize the Kinyarwanda-speaking population in eastern DR Congo as Congolese. “They might be Rwandophones but these are Congolese, and it is the responsibility of any government in Kinshasa to look after this section of this population like any other.” Mbeki said that the administrative footprint of the Congolese government does not reach eastern part of the country which means that other forces come and take over. For nearly three decades, the eastern Congolese provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri have known no peace, and remain the home of local and foreign armed groups wreaking havoc with regional implications. “You can’t avoid the phenomenon of M23 as the government unless you say that you will protect the Banyamulenge and Kinyarwanda-speaking community because they are Congolese. If you don’t say that, allowing other people to do as they wish towards the Banyamulenge, then M23 will continue to exist. They will get arms to defend themselves.” Late Former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere Speaking in New York, at a roundtable organised by the International Peace Academy in 1996, Nyerere said that the ethnic Rwandans, called the 'Banyamulenges', had been living in eastern Zaire –now DR Congo –since the time that region was a part of Rwanda. “They have always been there before the partitioning (by colonialist powers- Germany and Belgium),” he said, “No government has a right to deny them their right of citizenship.” He then called for the respect of the borders which were agreed between the Germans and Belgians, adding that, “we must also say respect the people whom you received under that partition.” “You can’t turn around and say, we no longer want you, you are no longer citizens of our country. What are you going to do? Are you going to return them alone or you return them with the piece of land? You can’t say go home; home where? We couldn’t, in Tanzania, get fed up with Maasai and say the Maasai go home to Kenya. Kenya is not their home; these are Maasai of Tanzania.” Uganda’s President Museveni Museveni once said that M23 is a political problem which can be solved by discussion. “We are telling Tshisekedi that these are simple matters...to agree with these people.”
