Rwanda’s Paul Kagame urges Congo to negotiate with M23 rebels after they seize strategic towns
21 hours, 47 minutes ago

Rwanda’s Paul Kagame urges Congo to negotiate with M23 rebels after they seize strategic towns

Associated Press  

KIGALI, Rwanda — President Paul Kagame of Rwanda urged Congolese authorities Thursday to negotiate with a violent rebel group that has seized key towns in eastern Congo in recent days, widening its control over the region which borders Rwanda. “The solution lies in internal political process, or dialogue.” Congo accuses Rwanda of backing M23 and has repeatedly rejected Kagame’s advice to negotiate with the rebels. In addition to negotiating with the M23 leadership, Kagame said Congolese authorities also must deal with the threat to Rwandan national security stemming from the presence in Congo of another armed group, known by its initials in French as the FLDR. Last February the U.S. State Department for the first time publicly described the M23 as a “Rwanda-backed” armed group, and urged Rwanda “to immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defense Force personnel from the and remove its surface-to-air missile systems.” U.N. experts previously said they had “solid evidence” that members of Rwanda’s armed forces were conducting operations there in support of the M23.

Rwanda Congo Congolese M23 Rwandan Kagame M23 Rebels  negotiate  paul  m23  kagame  rebels  congolese  strategic  solution  armed  seize  urges  towns  group  rwandan  rwanda  congo  rwandas

History of this topic

Rwanda and Congo cancel peace talks to end a conflict in eastern Congo
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Rwanda and Congo cancel peace talks to end a conflict in eastern Congo

Associated Press  

GOMA, Congo — Planned face-to-face peace talks between Congo and Rwanda have been unexpectedly canceled, the Congolese president said. Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame were set to meet Sunday in Angola, which has been mediating the conflict to put an end to a decades-long conflict in eastern Congo between the Congolese army and M23 rebel group, …

Rwanda and Congo cancel peace talks to end a conflict in eastern Congo
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Rwanda and Congo cancel peace talks to end a conflict in eastern Congo

LA Times  

Planned face-to-face peace talks between Congo and Rwanda have been unexpectedly canceled, the Congolese president said. Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame were set to meet Sunday in Angola, which has been mediating the conflict to put an end to a decades-long conflict in eastern Congo between the Congolese army and M23 rebel group, which is allegedly …

Fighting in eastern Congo between army and rebels intensifies ahead of peace talks Sunday
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Fighting in eastern Congo between army and rebels intensifies ahead of peace talks Sunday

Associated Press  

GOMA, Congo — Fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group intensified in eastern Congo in recent days ahead of much anticipated peace talks on Sunday, the army said. Congo’s army accused the M23 of killing 12 civilians earlier this week in villages of the Lubero territory in the eastern province of North-Kivu in a statement on Friday. …

Fighting in eastern Congo between army and rebels intensifies ahead of peace talks Sunday
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Fighting in eastern Congo between army and rebels intensifies ahead of peace talks Sunday

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Fighting between the Congolese army …

Fighting resumes in eastern Congo despite ceasefire between army and rebels
1 month, 1 week ago

Fighting resumes in eastern Congo despite ceasefire between army and rebels

Associated Press  

GOMA, Congo — Fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group resumed in eastern Congo in yet another ceasefire violation ahead of potential mediation talks, both groups said. M23 is one of a 100 armed groups that have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo near the border with Rwanda, in a conflict that has created …

East African summit urges peace in eastern Congo but its leader skips talks
1 month, 1 week ago

East African summit urges peace in eastern Congo but its leader skips talks

Associated Press  

ARUSHA, Tanzania — East African heads of state made another push for peace in eastern Congo on Saturday but its prospects remained bleak following a regional summit that was marked by the Congolese president’s absence and an early departure of his Rwandan counterpart. A communique read at the end of the closed-door meeting of the East African Community in Arusha, …

Uganda backed M23 in DRC, Rwanda’s ‘de facto control’ on group: UN experts
6 months ago

Uganda backed M23 in DRC, Rwanda’s ‘de facto control’ on group: UN experts

Al Jazeera  

The United Nations report says the Ugandan army supported the rebels while some 3,000-4,000 Rwandan soldiers fought alongside them in the eastern DRC. The UN Security Council’s group of experts on Monday also said some 3,000-4,000 Rwandan soldiers fought alongside M23 rebels in eastern DRC and that Kigali had “de facto control” of the group’s operations. “Since the resurgence of …

Though Rwanda has come a long way since the 1994 genocide, scars of the past still haunt the nation
9 months ago

Though Rwanda has come a long way since the 1994 genocide, scars of the past still haunt the nation

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rwanda is preparing to mark …

The United States tells Rwanda and Congo they must 'walk back from the brink of war'
10 months, 2 weeks ago

The United States tells Rwanda and Congo they must 'walk back from the brink of war'

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood …

Rwanda rejects US calls for withdrawal of missiles and troops from eastern Congo
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Rwanda rejects US calls for withdrawal of missiles and troops from eastern Congo

Associated Press  

KAMPALA, Uganda — Authorities in Rwanda on Monday rejected U.S. calls for the withdrawal of troops and missile systems from eastern Congo, saying they are defending Rwandan territory as Congo carries out a “dramatic military build-up” near the border. Rwanda’s Foreign Ministry in a statement spoke of threats to Rwandan national security stemming from the presence in Congo of an …

US condemns Rwanda’s support of armed M23 rebels in eastern Congo and calls for troop withdrawal
10 months, 3 weeks ago

US condemns Rwanda’s support of armed M23 rebels in eastern Congo and calls for troop withdrawal

Associated Press  

KAMPALA, Uganda — The U.S. has condemned Saturday Rwanda’s support of the armed M23 group in eastern Congo, whose rebellion has caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, and called on the rebel group to “cease hostilities.” The U.S. State Department in a statement strongly criticized “the worsening violence. caused by the actions of the Rwanda-backed, U.S.- and …

Tensions between Congo and Rwanda heighten the risk of military confrontation, UN envoy says
1 year ago

Tensions between Congo and Rwanda heighten the risk of military confrontation, UN envoy says

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — Tensions between Congo and Rwanda have escalated, heightening the risk of a military confrontation that could draw in Burundi, the top U.N. official in Congo warned the Security Council on Monday. She stressed that insecurity “has compounded the ongoing humanitarian crisis.” According to the U.N. humanitarian office, over 6.5 million people are displaced in Congo, 5.5 million …

Congo’s president makes campaign stop near conflict zone and blasts Rwanda for backing rebels
1 year ago

Congo’s president makes campaign stop near conflict zone and blasts Rwanda for backing rebels

Associated Press  

GOMA, Congo — A fiery President Felix Tshisekedi rallied thousands of supporters at a stadium in a conflict-stricken eastern region of Congo on Sunday, making one of his final campaign sweeps through the country in the lead-up to elections later this month. We are going to put an end to their barbaric reign of terrorism, which has put the Congolese …

Congo’s presidential candidates kick off campaigning a month before election
1 year, 1 month ago

Congo’s presidential candidates kick off campaigning a month before election

Associated Press  

KINSHASA, Congo — Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and a politician hoping to unseat him next month launched their campaigns Sunday as the incumbent leader faces ongoing violence in eastern Congo and a divided field of opposition candidates. The candidates represented at the talks included Martin Fayulu, a former oil executive who lost to Thisekedi five years ago; businessman Moise Katumbi; …

US asks Congo and Rwanda to de-escalate tensions as fighting near their border displaces millions
1 year, 2 months ago

US asks Congo and Rwanda to de-escalate tensions as fighting near their border displaces millions

Associated Press  

NAIROBI, Kenya — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Rwanda and Congo to de-escalate tensions and withdraw troops from their border following increased fighting that has displaced nearly 7 million people. Blinken spoke separately by phone with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame about the “volatile situation and worsening humanitarian crisis along the border,” the …

‘We need peace’: M23 war displaces DRC residents yet again
1 year, 7 months ago

‘We need peace’: M23 war displaces DRC residents yet again

Al Jazeera  

For thousands of people in the eastern DRC, displacement in the latest onslaught by the M23 is another episode in their fight for survival. “They are still practically using the same discourse,” said Sematumba of the rebels, comparing current fighters with their predecessors in the first M23 rebellion and to CNDP combatants. “ Kagame got very angry about that.” Life …

Rwanda says Congolese soldiers attack its border army post
1 year, 10 months ago

Rwanda says Congolese soldiers attack its border army post

Associated Press  

KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwanda’s army said its troops briefly exchanged fire with soldiers from Congo early Wednesday, in a new spike in tension between the neighbors who have accused each other of supporting armed rebel groups on the other side of the border. United Nations experts in December said they had “substantial evidence” of Rwandan government forces crossing into Congo …

Fighting intensifies in eastern Congo, displacing hundreds
1 year, 11 months ago

Fighting intensifies in eastern Congo, displacing hundreds

Associated Press  

GOMA, Congo — Fighting intensified around a town in eastern Congo Thursday as a rebel group seeking to expand the territory it controls increased pressure on government troops defending it, forcing hundreds of civilians to flee their homes. Congo for months has accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23 group — whose origins lie in the region’s ethnic fighting — …

EU calls on Rwanda to stop supporting M23 rebels in DR Congo
2 years ago

EU calls on Rwanda to stop supporting M23 rebels in DR Congo

Al Jazeera  

The bloc’s comments came after UN experts’ report found ‘direct intervention’ by Rwandan forces inside the DR Congo. The European Union has urged Rwanda to stop supporting the M23 rebel group, which has captured swaths of territory in North Kivu province in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday said the European …

UN experts: `Substantial evidence’ of Rwanda forces in Congo
2 years ago

UN experts: `Substantial evidence’ of Rwanda forces in Congo

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — U.N. experts say they found “substantial evidence” of Rwandan government forces crossing into neighboring eastern Congo, either to reinforce M23 rebels or to conduct military operations against another rebel group that includes fighters accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. The M23 rebels are largely Congolese ethnic Tutsis who became prominent 10 years ago when …

M23 rebels pledge to retreat from key position in eastern DRC
2 years ago

M23 rebels pledge to retreat from key position in eastern DRC

Al Jazeera  

Violence from the group has caused hundreds of thousands of people to flee in fear from the DRC’s volatile east region. The M23 rebel group, who have seized swaths of territory in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have pledged to retreat from a strategic front-line position. In a statement on Friday, the rebels announced that it …

Growing pressure on Rwanda from France, Germany over Congo
2 years ago

Growing pressure on Rwanda from France, Germany over Congo

Associated Press  

NAIROBI, Kenya — International pressure is growing on Rwanda as France and Germany are the latest parties to openly accuse the country of supporting armed rebels in neighboring eastern Congo — with possible repercussions for foreign aid that Kigali has long enjoyed. A report by United Nations experts earlier this year said they had “solid evidence” that Rwanda’s armed forces …

‘Tired of this war': Congolese cope with M23 rebel violence
2 years ago

‘Tired of this war': Congolese cope with M23 rebel violence

Associated Press  

BENI, Congo — Kavira Mathe was making dinner for her two sons when bullets began flying. “We are tired of this war.” Communities in eastern Congo are struggling to survive in the wake of that massacre and others in which at least 130 people were killed by M23 rebels in what the United Nations called “unspeakable violence” against civilians. The …

M23 rebels accuse Congo’s government of breaking cease-fire
2 years, 1 month ago

M23 rebels accuse Congo’s government of breaking cease-fire

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — M23 rebels accused a government coalition in Congo on Wednesday of targeted killings and breaching a cease-fire agreed to last month, jeopardizing prospects for peace in the country’s conflict-riddled east. M23 alleges the coalition attacked its positions in North Kivu province and was killing civilians, destroying houses and slaughtering cows, Lawrence Kanyuka, the rebel group’s political spokesperson, …

M23 says ready to ‘withdraw’ in eastern DRC, yet clashes reported
2 years, 1 month ago

M23 says ready to ‘withdraw’ in eastern DRC, yet clashes reported

Al Jazeera  

The armed group, which was absent from the latest peace talks, has requested a meeting with regional mediators over the continuing conflict. The M23 rebel group says it is ready to withdraw from occupied territory in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and will support regional peace-making efforts despite not being represented in talks. The Tutsi-led armed group widely seen …

UN mission denounces DR Congo ‘massacre’, calls for investigation
2 years, 1 month ago

UN mission denounces DR Congo ‘massacre’, calls for investigation

Al Jazeera  

Peacekeeping mission condemns ‘appalling act’ as it calls for an immediate end to violence against civilians in the east. The UN’s peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has denounced the killings of 50 villagers allegedly by the M23 armed group in the country’s conflict-wracked east as it called for an investigation to “bring the perpetrators to justice”. …

DRC fighting resumes, M23 say ceasefire deal doesn’t affect them
2 years, 1 month ago

DRC fighting resumes, M23 say ceasefire deal doesn’t affect them

Al Jazeera  

Congolese government has rejected any direct talks with M23, while the armed group says it has no plans to withdraw. Fighting resumed between troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and M23 rebels in the country’s east on Friday, as the armed group said a ceasefire deal between African leaders “doesn’t really concern” them. But Lawrence Kanyuka, the political …

Rwanda agrees on ‘immediate ceasefire’ in eastern DR Congo
2 years, 1 month ago

Rwanda agrees on ‘immediate ceasefire’ in eastern DR Congo

Al Jazeera  

Former Kenyan president and Rwandan leader agree on the need for M23 rebels to cease fire and withdraw from eastern DRC. Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Rwandan leader Paul Kagame have agreed on the need for M23 rebels to cease fire and withdraw from captured territories in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the East African …

Escalating border war in Africa tests a Biden administration already weighed down by global crises
2 years, 4 months ago

Escalating border war in Africa tests a Biden administration already weighed down by global crises

LA Times  

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken listens as Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vincent Biruta speaks during a news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Kigali, Rwanda, on Aug. 11. “Every country in the region must respect the territorial integrity of the others,” Blinken said after meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. In addition to …

U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rwanda to discuss Congo tensions, human rights
2 years, 4 months ago

U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rwanda to discuss Congo tensions, human rights

The Hindu  

U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Rwanda, the last stop on his three-nation tour of Africa where he has articulated Washington's new strategy for engaging with sub-Saharan African nations as “equal partners". Rwanda is rejecting a new report by United Nations experts saying they have “solid evidence” that members of Rwanda's armed forces are conducting operations in …

UN experts: Rwandan forces operate with M23 rebels in Congo
2 years, 5 months ago

UN experts: Rwandan forces operate with M23 rebels in Congo

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — U.N. experts say they have “solid evidence” that members of Rwanda’s armed forces are conducting operations in volatile eastern Congo in support of the M23 rebel group, which is waging a major offensive in the mineral-rich region that has caused deaths and massive displacement of civilians. In a new report to the U.N. Security Council, obtained Thursday …

DR Congo and Rwanda agree to reduce tensions over M23 rebels
2 years, 6 months ago

DR Congo and Rwanda agree to reduce tensions over M23 rebels

Al Jazeera  

DRC says it has agreed ‘de-escalation process’ with Rwanda following weeks of rising tensions over rebel fighting. Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo have agreed to a “de-escalation process” following one-day talks between their presidents, mediated by Angola, amid rising tensions over the activities of the M23 rebel group, the Congolese presidency said. It also called for a return …

East African leaders send regional force to eastern Congo
2 years, 6 months ago

East African leaders send regional force to eastern Congo

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy East Africa’s leaders have responded …

DR Congo welcomes deployment of regional force to fight rebels
2 years, 6 months ago

DR Congo welcomes deployment of regional force to fight rebels

Al Jazeera  

Kinshasa says it will not accept the participation of Rwandan troops in any regional force to fight the M23 rebels. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has welcomed Kenya’s proposal to deploy a regional force to fight the M23 rebel group in the east of the country, but said it won’t accept neighbour Rwanda’s participation. Rwanda denies DRC’s allegations that …

EXPLAINER: Why Rwanda and Congo are sliding toward war again
2 years, 6 months ago

EXPLAINER: Why Rwanda and Congo are sliding toward war again

Associated Press  

NAIROBI, Kenya — The threat of war with neighboring Congo is simmering under the tidy surface of Rwanda’s capital as the East African nation hosts the British prime minister and other world leaders next week for the Commonwealth summit. If Rwanda wants war, “it will have war,” a spokesman for the military governor of Congo’s North Kivu province told thousands …

Why Rwanda and Congo are sliding toward war again
2 years, 6 months ago

Why Rwanda and Congo are sliding toward war again

LA Times  

People walk on the road near Kibumba, north of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, as they flee fighting between Congolese forces and M23 rebels in North Kivu last month. If Rwanda wants war, “it will have war,” a spokesman for the military governor of Congo’s North Kivu province told thousands of protesters on Wednesday. At that, Congo’s military accused Rwandan …

Analysis: Why are Rwanda and DRC having another diplomatic spat?
2 years, 7 months ago

Analysis: Why are Rwanda and DRC having another diplomatic spat?

Al Jazeera  

The current diplomatic spat seems to have been triggered by fighting between M23 and state forces in eastern DR Congo. Meanwhile, Kigali, which had already accused Congolese security forces of firing rockets into its territory, said two Rwandan soldiers had been kidnapped on patrol and were being held by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda – another rebel …

In Mozambique, Kagame says Rwandan troops’ work not over
3 years, 3 months ago

In Mozambique, Kagame says Rwandan troops’ work not over

Al Jazeera  

Rwandan president says his country’s force will help secure and rebuild Cabo Delgado areas destroyed by years-long armed campaign. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has arrived in Mozambique, where he has deployed some 1,000 soldiers to help local security forces tackle fighters wreaking havoc in the country’s north. pic.twitter.com/5IgFJMRl8f — Presidency | Rwanda September 24, 2021 In a joint news conference, …

Will Kagame and Museveni resolve their dispute?
4 years, 10 months ago

Will Kagame and Museveni resolve their dispute?

Al Jazeera  

Two leaders set to meet on Friday in bid to resolve continuing dispute that led to closing of their shared border. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is set to meet his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame on Friday at the central African countries’ shared border in a bid to resolve a continuing dispute between the two leaders. “Groups which have carried out …

25 years after genocide, Rwanda’s Kagame is praised, feared
5 years, 9 months ago

25 years after genocide, Rwanda’s Kagame is praised, feared

Associated Press  

KAMPALA, Uganda — A quarter-century after Rwanda’s brutal genocide, President Paul Kagame remains a constant figure atop the country’s politics, feted by those who say it needs his visionary leadership and loathed by others who see a firm authoritarian with a malicious streak. Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, told The Associated Press that those complaining about human …

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