At the regional summit in Tanzania, Rwandan President Paul Kagame blamed the Democratic Republic of Congo for escalating conflict in its eastern region and stressed that Rwanda would defend itself against mounting border threats.
Speaking at the EAC-SADC Joint Summit in Dar es Salaam, Kagame rejected accusations of Rwandan involvement in the violence. "DR Congo cannot just tell us to keep quiet when they mount a security problem against our country. Nobody can tell us to shut up," Kagame said.
The high-stakes meeting, led by Kenyan President William Ruto and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, proceeded without DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi, who sent Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde as his representative. Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye chose to attend a prayer breakfast in the United States despite his country's military involvement in eastern Congo.
Kagame criticized DR Congo's approach to the crisis during closed-door discussions. "We have been begging DR Congo and its leaders for a long time. We have shared our issues and asked DR Congo to address them, and they have refused," he stated.
The Rwandan leader emphasized the ethnic dimensions of the conflict, arguing that DR Congo's treatment of certain groups has created instability. He warned against ineffective diplomatic gatherings. "Let us not just have another meeting like the many we have had. We can't go on forever massaging problems," Kagame declared.
He maintained Rwanda's innocence in the fighting. "This war started by DR Congo and not anything from Rwanda. It was just brought and put on our shoulders, and we were told to own it. We can't own it," he asserted.
The summit aimed to unite regional peace initiatives, including the Luanda and Nairobi processes. The notable absences of Presidents Tshisekedi and Ndayishimiye raised questions about diplomatic commitment among regional leaders.
Regional mediators face substantial challenges implementing the summit's calls for an immediate ceasefire and political dialogue amid heightened tensions between Rwanda and DR Congo.
Speaking at the EAC-SADC Joint Summit in Dar es Salaam, Kagame rejected accusations of Rwandan involvement in the violence. "DR Congo cannot just tell us to keep quiet when they mount a security problem against our country. Nobody can tell us to shut up," Kagame said.
The high-stakes meeting, led by Kenyan President William Ruto and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, proceeded without DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi, who sent Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde as his representative. Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye chose to attend a prayer breakfast in the United States despite his country's military involvement in eastern Congo.
Kagame criticized DR Congo's approach to the crisis during closed-door discussions. "We have been begging DR Congo and its leaders for a long time. We have shared our issues and asked DR Congo to address them, and they have refused," he stated.
The Rwandan leader emphasized the ethnic dimensions of the conflict, arguing that DR Congo's treatment of certain groups has created instability. He warned against ineffective diplomatic gatherings. "Let us not just have another meeting like the many we have had. We can't go on forever massaging problems," Kagame declared.
He maintained Rwanda's innocence in the fighting. "This war started by DR Congo and not anything from Rwanda. It was just brought and put on our shoulders, and we were told to own it. We can't own it," he asserted.
The summit aimed to unite regional peace initiatives, including the Luanda and Nairobi processes. The notable absences of Presidents Tshisekedi and Ndayishimiye raised questions about diplomatic commitment among regional leaders.
Regional mediators face substantial challenges implementing the summit's calls for an immediate ceasefire and political dialogue amid heightened tensions between Rwanda and DR Congo.
