Tshisekedi: Rwanda Faking Troop Withdrawal to Delay Peace

New York, September 22 – President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has accused Rwanda of deliberately sabotaging peace efforts in eastern Congo by pretending to withdraw troops while continuing to back the M23 rebellion. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Congolese leader denounced what he called Kigali’s “maneuvers” designed to delay the Washington peace agreement and allow the crisis to deepen.

Rwanda’s Deception

“The recent situation is not encouraging. Things are not really changing on the ground,” Tshisekedi said. Despite claims by Kigali that its soldiers had left Congolese territory, he stressed that Rwandan forces remain present and continue to support M23 auxiliaries.

“Rwanda pretends to have withdrawn its troops, but in reality they are still there,” Tshisekedi declared. “Kigali is seeking to gain time for the crisis to worsen.”

For the Congolese president, any delay in implementing the ceasefire is Rwanda’s responsibility. He questioned how long mediators from Qatar and the United States would tolerate Kigali’s games:

“These maneuvers come directly from Rwanda and its leader, designed to delay the process as long as possible. We, for our part, are ready to make peace.”

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Peace vs Kagame’s War Machine

While Kinshasa has committed to the Washington agreement and is continuing negotiations under Qatari mediation, fighting has flared once more in North Kivu as the Rwandan-backed M23 escalates attacks. For Tshisekedi, the contradiction is clear: Congo seeks peace, while Kagame fuels war to extend Rwanda’s influence and the looting of resources.

Minerals for Development, Not Exploitation

Tshisekedi also addressed Congo’s mineral wealth, insisting that new talks with Washington aim to secure a fair partnership, not another chapter of exploitation.

He confirmed that discussions are underway with the United States to guarantee a stable supply chain for critical minerals such as cobalt, vital for global electronics. But he drew a sharp line between Congo’s vision and past predation:

“This is not simply a sell-off of our minerals for the interests of a few individuals. It is an exchange of minerals for the development of our country.”

The president outlined key priorities for such cooperation: investments in infrastructure, energy, industrialization, and education. By linking mineral trade to long-term development, Tshisekedi positioned Congo as an equal partner rather than a victim of resource theft.

The Bigger Picture

Once again, Kagame’s regime finds itself exposed: denying troop presence even as M23 advances, stalling ceasefire deadlines, and undermining peace to secure plunder. Congo, on the other hand, is using every diplomatic platform, from Washington to New York, to reaffirm its readiness for peace and its demand for respect.

For Tshisekedi, the path forward is clear: accountability for Rwanda’s deception, genuine withdrawal of foreign troops, and partnerships that turn Congo’s resources into prosperity for its people, not profit for outsiders.