On February 22, the Issa Hayatou Foundation held a press conference, urging the African Football Confederation (CAF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to take action against Rwanda. The foundation accused Rwanda of supporting the M23/AFC rebel group in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

During the press briefing, Anoi Niniba Castro, the president of this international organization dedicated to youth football development and promoting peace through sports, expressed solidarity with the DRC. He criticized the actions of the M23 and Rwanda, highlighting the negative impact on Congolese citizens.

“The DRC has suffered brutal attacks and killings in its eastern regions by a terrorist group known as M23. We accuse Rwanda, a state manipulated by Western networks, of working solely to exploit the DRC’s natural resources. We cannot remain silent as Rwanda’s barbaric aggression continues against the Congolese people and President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi,” said Castro.

He also noted that the foundation had recognized Tshisekedi’s peace efforts during events in Benin and Kinshasa in 2022 and 2023. Castro emphasized that the foundation stands firmly against Rwanda and the M23 for the atrocities they continue to commit in the DRC.

Additionally, the foundation president referred to these acts as genocide. He called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Rwandan President Paul Kagame and the M23 leader, Corneille Nanga. Castro stressed the need for international responses to these human rights violations in Africa and pointed out unequal treatment in comparison to other conflicts.

“The Issa Hayatou Foundation calls on these aggressors to withdraw unconditionally from Congolese territory and end their advances, which only bring mourning to the Congolese people.

Furthermore, we extend full support to the DRC’s armed forces, the Wazalendo, as well as the Burundian and South African forces defending the country’s sovereignty and people in the east,” Castro said. He also honored the memory of all fallen African soldiers who gave their lives to protect the DRC’s sovereignty.

Despite repeated calls from the international community and regional organizations, the M23 rebellion, backed by Rwanda, continues its offensive in the DRC’s eastern province, worsening the security and humanitarian crisis. Resolutions from the joint SADC-EAC summit have yet to be fully implemented. Kinshasa now awaits decisive actions from its regional and international partners to halt the advances and ensure the withdrawal of the M23-AFC-RDF coalition.

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