The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi, has accused Rwanda of violating a newly signed US-brokered peace deal, as the Kigali-backed M23 armed group pressed ahead with a rapid advance on a town near the border with Burundi.
Tshisekedi told lawmakers on Monday that Rwandan forces had carried out attacks in several locations in South Kivu province in the days since he and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, signed a peace accord in Washington, DC on December 4, aimed at ending years of conflict.
“Despite our good faith and the recently ratified agreement, it is clear that Rwanda is already violating its commitments,” Tshisekedi alleged, claiming that the Rwandan army had carried out and supported attacks with heavy weaponry “on the very day after the signing”.
There was no immediate comment by Rwanda. The Anadolu news agency cited Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe as calling similar accusations against the Rwandan army “ridiculous” and an attempt to shift blame.
Rwanda denies backing M23, but says it faces a threat from armed groups with links to the 1994 Rwandan genocide present in eastern DRC.
Thursday’s signing of the accord, which saw both sides reaffirm their commitment to a United States- and Qatar-brokered agreement reached in June, was hailed by US President Donald Trump as a new chapter for the region, even as fighting continued.
“It is an amazing day: Great day for Africa, great day for the world and for these two countries,” Trump said at the time.
