{"id":53476,"date":"2025-03-20T07:39:40","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T07:39:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/tshisekedi-calls-for-lasting-peace-amid-rwanda-tensions\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T17:11:17","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T17:11:17","slug":"tshisekedi-calls-for-lasting-peace-amid-rwanda-tensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/tshisekedi-calls-for-lasting-peace-amid-rwanda-tensions\/","title":{"rendered":"Tshisekedi calls for lasting peace amid Rwanda tensions"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an exclusive interview with Le Figaro, he reflected on his recent meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Qatar and addressed the region’s conflicts and resource challenges.<\/p>\n

Tshisekedi and Kagame met in Doha under the mediation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The talks aimed to ease hostilities between the two nations, but no concrete agreements emerged.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe meeting was conducted in a good atmosphere. The first step was taken with the support of Qatari envoys. The key issue was ensuring an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Talks must continue to reach a sustainable solution,\u201d Tshisekedi said.<\/p>\n

Despite efforts to engage the M23 rebel group in peace negotiations, talks in Angola collapsed after M23 refused to participate, citing sanctions imposed by the European Union on its leaders. Tshisekedi insisted that solutions must come through regional dialogue processes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe search for a definitive solution to the Congolese crisis is guided by the Luanda and Nairobi dialogue processes, initiated by the African Union and supported by regional organizations and the United Nations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

{{Mineral resources and military reforms}}<\/p>\n

Tshisekedi also addressed concerns about the DRC\u2019s vast mineral wealth and ongoing negotiations with the United States. He rejected fears of rushed deals and emphasized the need for fair trade agreements.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I absolutely want to avoid is a sell-off or rushed agreements,\u201d he said. \u201cThe goal is a win-win partnership that allows the DRC to process its minerals locally, create added value, and develop a value chain. <\/p>\n

As much as possible, raw material processing should take place here with investors who contribute to building the energy infrastructure that we lack.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another major issue is the presence of the FDLR, an armed group accused of harboring former g\u00e9nocidaires from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Rwanda sees them as a security threat, but Tshisekedi downplayed their influence.<\/p>\n

\u201cDisarmament, demobilization, and reintegration are key. The FDLR is a residual force with no more than 750 fighters. It is insignificant compared to M23,\u201d he stated. Tshisekedi acknowledged the weaknesses of the Congolese army, including corruption and poor pay, but noted ongoing reforms.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur army has about 100,000 soldiers,\u201d he said. \u201cA soldier\u2019s salary was $100 per month, but we have now increased it. A soldier on the frontlines can now earn up to $500 per month.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also reaffirmed the DRC\u2019s neutral stance on global conflicts, despite condemning Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine. \u201cWe are not in conflict with Russia,\u201d he said. \u201cThe DRC is an invaded country, just like Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the ongoing challenges, Tshisekedi remains adamant that the DRC will not be divided. \u201cI have always believed in the Congolese people\u2019s desire for a united and indivisible Congo,\u201d he asserted. \u201cI promise you that it will not happen, at least not in my lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Tshisekedi<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

President F\u00e9lix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reiterated his call for lasting peace with Rwanda despite ongoing tensions and failed mediation efforts. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":2000083895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-53476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000083895,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-457.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-457.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-457.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-457.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-457.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-457.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53476"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53476\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000083895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53476"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=53476"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=53476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}