PRESS RELEASE

Postponement of the December 15 Summit: Rwanda’s New Condition Derails the Peace Process

Kinshasa, December 15, 2024 – The Democratic Republic of the Congo takes note of the failure to hold the tripartite summit convened by Angolan mediation on Sunday, December 15, 2024, as part of the Luanda Peace Process. The purpose of the summit was to adopt the agreement previously prepared and negotiated by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and Rwanda.

During the ministerial meeting held on Saturday, December 14, Rwanda introduced a last-minute condition prior to the signing of the agreement: the requirement for direct dialogue between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the terrorist group M23. This constitutes a deliberate obstruction and a major setback to the efforts undertaken to successfully conclude the Luanda Process, initiated by the African Union and supported by the United Nations Security Council since July 2022.

By introducing this last-minute condition, contrary to previous discussions, Rwanda once again demonstrates its unconditional support for the M23, a terrorist group implicated in serious human rights violations and destabilizing activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This irresponsible stance endangers peace and jeopardizes the major progress achieved, notably the signing of an operational plan allowing, on the one hand, the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory and, on the other hand, the disarmament and neutralization of the FDLR.

The Democratic Republic of Congo condemns this new bad faith maneuver, which once again reveals Rwanda’s lack of genuine willingness to commit to a sincere peace process. This behavior not only harms regional stability but also constitutes a violation of principles agreed upon in the framework of international and regional initiatives.

While saluting the crucial role of His Excellency President João Lourenço in mediation efforts, the Democratic Republic of Congo calls on the international community to consider the consequences of this failure and to act firmly in response to Rwanda’s attitude.

The Democratic Republic of Congo reaffirms its commitment to continuing efforts to restore a just and lasting peace in the Great Lakes through the Luanda process.

Kinshasa, December 15, 2024

The Presidency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo