Kagame’s Call for Dialogue
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has urged the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) authorities to engage in direct negotiations with the M23 rebel group. The rebels have recently captured key towns in eastern Congo, worsening tensions in the mineral-rich region bordering Rwanda.
Kagame stressed that the DRC government must assume responsibility for resolving its internal issues. “If the DRC government is not encouraged to take its own responsibility for its people and its country and everybody joins them to blame others for their problems, how do you expect Congo to address these problems that affect all of us?” he said. 
M23’s Territorial Gains
In recent weeks, the M23 rebel group has seized the towns of Katale and Masisi, with Masisi located just 80 kilometres from Goma, the regional capital of North Kivu province. The group’s advances underscore the fragility of the region, which is home to over 100 armed factions vying for control.
Last year alone, fighting displaced over a million people in eastern DRC, highlighting the humanitarian toll of the ongoing conflict.
Historical Context of the M23 Group
Kagame provided historical context, explaining that many M23 leaders and fighters had fled to Uganda as refugees during earlier conflicts in 2012 and 2013.
“These leaders of M23 and the majority of their fighters came from Uganda where they had been as refugees who fled the problems of 2012/2013 when these people [rebels] moved to Uganda and others came here,” Kagame noted.
He also expressed frustration over Rwanda being implicated in the conflict. “The fighting was started by the main group that was in and from Uganda. So how did it become Rwanda’s problem? Honestly! What is the basis and for how long do we explain this? Up to what point?”
Standoff Between Rwanda and the DRC
Despite Kagame’s push for dialogue, the DRC government has consistently accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels—a charge Rwanda denies.
The Congolese authorities have also dismissed Kagame’s suggestion to negotiate with the group, adding another layer of complexity to peace efforts.
As M23 continues its territorial advances, the lack of consensus on how to resolve the conflict raises questions about the region’s stability and the international community’s role in mediating the crisis.
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