The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, has hinted that his earlier statements made before European leaders about wanting peace and reconciliation with Rwanda were mere pretence. He admitted he made those remarks only to appear as a statesman and to make the world believe that he was not the problem.
Tshisekedi made these remarks while addressing the Congolese diaspora in Belgium, where he was attending the Global Gateway Forum a high-level summit aimed at strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Africa.
During the summit held on October 9, 2025, Tshisekedi appeared to extend an olive branch, saying he was “ready to embrace any solution” that could bring peace to his country. In front of other heads of state, he even told President Kagame that the two of them could resolve the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, urging him to stop allegedly supporting the M23 rebel group a claim Rwanda has consistently denied as baseless.
However, while speaking to the Congolese community in Belgium the next day, Tshisekedi downplayed those comments, saying he had only made them to “show the world” that he was not the source of instability, but rather that Rwanda and President Kagame were. “What happened yesterday is no secret; you all saw it. I did it in broad daylight,” Tshisekedi told his audience. “I extended my hand to the man who represents the groups attacking our country so that the entire world could witness it.”
He added: “As we exercise our right to defend ourselves, they have started portraying us as warmongers. I wanted to show the world that it’s not true we are the first who desire peace. Since they say we want war, I said, ‘Fine, I want peace now respond to that.’”
Tshisekedi went on to accuse Rwanda of trying to sabotage DRC’s plans to sign major cooperation agreements with the United States, claiming Kigali reacted aggressively upon learning of those negotiations.“When they heard about the important agreements we were preparing to sign with the U.S. deals that had nothing to do with selling our natural resources, as some claim they reacted like never before,” he said. “They mobilized everyone politicians, religious leaders, civil society just to block us.”
He boasted that Congo had been fighting for a long time, even before Rwanda became powerful: “We began this struggle long ago, when they were still drinking milk,” he said mockingly. “We are used to standing up to those who think they are mighty this will not discourage us.”
Tshisekedi also rejected any possibility of holding talks with the M23 group, insisting that he would only negotiate with Congolese who condemned Rwanda’s alleged aggression.“We don’t want talks of that kind,” he said. “We only want dialogue among Congolese who reject this foreign aggression. Anyone who wants dialogue must first denounce those who attacked us.”
He vowed never to engage in negotiations with representatives “of the aggressor,” adding: “It will never happen while I’m alive unless I’m removed or killed.”
Despite saying he was open to discussions aimed at finding lasting peace in DRC, Tshisekedi made it clear that he would not accept talks that might lead to the integration of rebel forces into the national army.
He even claimed credit for various mediation efforts led by the U.S. and Qatar, saying that without his initiative, those peace processes would not have taken place.
Meanwhile, Rwandan President Paul Kagame refrained from commenting directly on Tshisekedi’s remarks but later wrote on X: “When one is bothered by the rattling of an empty drum, that person has a problem too. The best thing is to either walk away or let it rattle.”
In response, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, said on X that Tshisekedi would “wait forever” for a reply, adding that Rwanda is not interested in “political theatrics” meant to mislead Congolese citizens and the international community.
He added that mediators from both the U.S. and Qatar are still waiting for Tshisekedi to resume his commitments to regional cooperation and peace efforts, accusing him of escalating tensions through airstrikes, the use of drones, and collaboration with militia groups such as the FDLR and Wazalendo.
“He should stop violating the ceasefire, attacking Congolese civilians especially the Banyamulenge and other Tutsi communities and cease using hate speech and mercenaries,” Nduhungirehe concluded.
Author:Justinmind HARERIMANA
