Regional

Ruto: 'How is M23 Kagame’s problem? It’s a Congolese problem'

Rwandan President Paul Kagame (left) with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai on February 12, 2024. (Photo: Presidency Rwanda)

By Mwangi Maina | Thursday, May 23, 2024

These remarks are likely to increase tensions between Nairobi and Kinshasa, following Nairobi's recent efforts to contain the situation.

Kenyan President William Ruto asserted on Wednesday that the security crisis in eastern DRC and the ongoing tensions are primarily a Congolese issue, not a Rwandan one.

These remarks are likely to increase tensions between Nairobi and Kinshasa, following Nairobi's recent efforts to contain the situation.

Keep reading

President Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Felix Tshisekedi (Democratic Republic of Congo) have been feuding over the M23 rebels, with the latter accusing the former's government of backing them.

In January, the Congolese president urged the United Nations, the African Union, and regional organisations to impose punitive sanctions on Rwanda for allegedly supporting the M23, which has been wreaking havoc in the eastern DRC. Rwanda has repeatedly denied these accusations.

During an interview recorded last Friday with Jeune Afrique and the Africa Report in Kigali at the Africa CEO Forum, Ruto maintained scepticism regarding the crisis being attributed to Kigali and the M23.

He emphasised that there is no basis for accusing Rwandan leader Paul Kagame of backing the rebels because its members are Congolese.

“How is the M23 Kagame’s problem?” It’s a Congolese problem,” said the Kenyan leader, who spoke in Kigali, a capital deemed hostile by Kinshasa.

“As heads of state, during a meeting, we asked: the M23, are the members of this group Rwandan or Congolese? And the DRC told us: They’re Congolese.’ End of question. If they are Congolese, how does this become a Rwandan problem?”

Dialogue

Ruto posed a question raised by the M23: "Do we surrender our arms before having a conversation, or do we engage in dialogue first?"

M23rebels leave a handover ceremony at Rumangabo camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on January 6, 2023. (Photo: AFP)

M23rebels leave a handover ceremony at Rumangabo camp in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on January 6, 2023. (Photo: AFP)

He said the leaders emphasised the need to address grievances and requested the government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to consider engaging in dialogue with its citizens to resolve the issue.

Ruto said the suggestions put forth by the M23 resonated with all regional leaders, prompting them to urge the government in the DRC to initiate a dialogue with its citizens to address the issue at hand. He did not elaborate on when this happened.

"We in the EAC believe that the challenge in eastern DRC cannot be resolved solely through military force if those involved are open to dialogue," Ruto stated.

He emphasised their request to the Kinshasa government to earnestly consider using available instruments, referring to the Nairobi and Luanda processes, which are dialogue mechanisms.

He added, “We still believe the solution to the challenges of eastern DRC does not lie in the use of military force but in the use of the consultative process.”

In 2023, Kenyan troops had been stationed in eastern DRC for over a year as part of the East African Community (EAC) force mandate.

However, this mandate lapsed on December 8, 2023, and was not extended. While the regional force faced criticism in the DRC, the efforts of Kenyan soldiers received widespread praise in Nairobi.