Rwanda’s President Kagame says peace deal with Congo could collapse.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said his country is still committed to a recent peace agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) but warned that the deal might fall apart if Congo doesn’t act as promised.
Speaking in Kigali on Friday, Kagame stated clearly that the agreement will only work if Congo disbanded the FDLR, a rebel group with roots in the 1994 genocide. He added that any failure by Congo to act will force Rwanda to defend itself.
“If they take us back to the problem, we’ll handle it like before,” he said.
The peace deal was put together by the Trump administration, which also promised investment deals around minerals like gold and copper. Kagame thanked the U.S. for helping out but said if things go wrong, local leaders, not the U.S.would be to blame.
Kigali Denies Backing M23 Rebels
Rwanda once again rejected claims that it supports the M23 rebel group, which recently took control of Goma and Bukavu. Kagame said his military is only acting to protect Rwanda against the FDLR threat.
While Kagame openly shared Rwanda’s concerns, the Congolese government had not issued any official response to his press statement by Friday evening.
The president also used the event to dismiss online speculation about his health after being away from the public eye for nearly three weeks. “Am I not human?” he joked, calling the rumours pointless gossip.
Meanwhile, both DRC officials and the M23 rebels have confirmed plans to return to the negotiating table in Qatar, as efforts to end the long conflict continue to gain momentum.
