DRC: Tshisekedi’s strategic ‘errors’ as M23 advance towards Goma
By
Musinguzi Blanshe
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October 31, 2022 15:37
DRC’s President Tshisekedi addresses a press conference after the “G20 Compact with Africa” (CwA) meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Tobias Schwarz/Pool Photo via AP)
The relationship between Rwanda and DRC has hit a new low after Kinshasa expelled the Rwandan ambassador Saturday night. The expulsion comes amidst a resurgence of fighting in North Kivu, in eastern DRC between M23 rebels and the ‘Forces armées de la république démocratique du Congo’ (FARDC) resulting in the former gaining more territory. But getting to this point has included miscalculations in the part of DRC. The expulsion is the harshest decision that Kinshasa has taken.
DRC’s government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya Katembwe said the decision was due to Rwanda’s arrogance.
He also cited contempt for Nairobi and Luanda peace initiatives as well as Kigali’s failure to adhere to recommendations of the international community to cease supporting M23 “terrorists” and withdraw them from Congolese territory. In May, DRC banned RwandAir from operating in its territory.
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