- Tshisekedi Repeats Accusations against Rwanda at the UN
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi once again used the platform of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to attack Rwanda, accusing Kigali of fueling the conflict in eastern Congo.
In a press briefing on Monday, Tshisekedi claimed that Rwanda pretends to have withdrawn its troops from Congolese territory, while in reality, they are still present and actively supporting the M23 rebel movement.
“Rwanda portrays itself as if it has withdrawn its forces from Congo, but the truth is that those Rwandan soldiers remain on our soil, continuing to supply M23 with firepower and equipment,” he said.
These allegations are not new. Kinshasa has made similar claims repeatedly without presenting solid evidence. Kigali has consistently dismissed them, describing them as political rhetoric designed to deflect attention from Congo’s own internal failures.
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Washington Agreement in Question
Tshisekedi further accused Rwanda of disregarding the Washington peace agreement signed on June 27, 2025. According to him, Kigali has refused to fully withdraw its forces and to stop supporting M23.
Rwanda, however, maintains that the crisis in eastern Congo is primarily the result of Kinshasa’s governance failures, the weakness of its army (FARDC), and its documented collaboration with armed groups such as the FDLR a militia with a long and violent history against Kigali.
Blaming Rwanda as a Political Tool
Tshisekedi insisted that the M23/AFC coalition operates under Rwanda’s directives, claiming that peace talks, including those held in Doha, cannot yield results because of Kigali’s influence.
But analysts argue that Tshisekedi’s rhetoric is largely political, aimed at rallying support ahead of elections by presenting external enemies rather than addressing Congo’s deep-rooted problems.
For its part, Rwanda continues to highlight Kinshasa’s support for the FDLR, a group implicated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and still openly threatening Rwanda’s security. UN expert reports have themselves acknowledged evidence of collaboration between FARDC and the FDLR.
Old Allegations, Few Results
Tshisekedi’s latest accusations come as several UN reports and Western countries have echoed similar claims of Rwanda’s involvement with M23. Yet critics say these remain unsubstantiated and often politically motivated.
Kinshasa, on the other hand, denies working with the FDLR, but this denial has done little to erase mounting evidence of the militia’s role in FARDC operations.
Conclusion
In essence, President Tshisekedi continues to build a narrative that blames Rwanda for Congo’s crises, while avoiding accountability for his own government’s shortcomings. Pointing fingers at Kigali does little to address the proliferation of armed groups in eastern Congo and only underscores Kinshasa’s persistent strategy of externalizing blame instead of confronting domestic governance and security failures.
