BRAZZAVILLE, Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo President, Felix Tshisekedi, said Sunday there was "no doubt" that Rwanda was backing a rebellion on their territory, but insisted he was still seeking peaceful relations with Kigali.
His remarks were just the
latest exchange against the background of the resurgence of the M23 rebels
active in the east of the country, near the border with Rwanda.
"I have always maintained
that you have to build bridges rather than walls," said Tshisekedi on
state television, in his first public remarks on the growing crisis between the
two countries.
"Unfortunately, today, we
are where we are."
DR Congo's neighbours should
not mistake its desire for peace with weakness, he added.
"That does not constitute
an opportunity for neighbours to come and provoke us," he said.
"I hope that Rwanda has
learned this lesson, because, today, it's clear, there is no doubt, Rwanda has
supported the M23 to come and attack the DRC."
Tshisekedi's was speaking as
he visited Kinshasa's western neighbour, Congo-Brazzaville, for talks with
President Denis Sassou Nguesso.
Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of
backing the M23 rebels, who have been involved in a series of clashes with the
army since the end of May, allegations Kigali has denied.
Kinshasa has suspended flights
of Rwandan airline RwandAir between the two countries and summoned Rwanda's
ambassador to warn him of the country's position.
Relations between the DRC and
Rwanda have been strained since Rwandan Hutus accused of slaughtering Tutsis
during the 1994 Rwanda genocide arrived in eastern DRC en masse.
The relationship began to thaw
after Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi took office in 2019 but the recent
resurgence of M23 violence has reignited regional tensions.
The African Union and UN have
both called for calm.
M23 fighters captured Goma in
2012 before the army drove them from the city and crushed their
rebellion.
However, the militia took up
arms again in late 2021 after accusing the government of having failed to
respect a 2009 agreement that foresaw incorporating its fighters into the army.
- AFP
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