Kinshasa, DRC: Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has vowed to restore government authority in the country’s eastern regions amid an ongoing offensive by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have seized control of the strategic city of Goma and are reportedly advancing further south. In a fiery televised address, Tshisekedi emphasized a “vigorous and coordinated response” against what he called “terrorists,” declaring that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would not bow to humiliation or defeat.
“We will fight, and we will triumph,” Tshisekedi said, rallying the nation behind the Congolese military’s effort to regain control of the region. The president criticized the international community for its “inaction” in the face of the escalating conflict, as the M23’s months-long offensive continues to displace hundreds of thousands of people, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
The city of Goma, located on the shores of Lake Kivu, has been at the heart of the rebel assault, with widespread shortages of food, water, and electricity as the fighting rages. According to the United Nations, around 500,000 people have been forced from their homes, and the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly precarious.
Tshisekedi’s speech came as an East African regional summit called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but the president has remained firm in his refusal to engage directly with the M23 rebels. Instead, Tshisekedi insists on dialogue with Rwanda, accusing the neighboring country of backing the rebel group. This position has strained relations with other regional leaders, including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, who has rejected the claims and voiced frustration over South Africa’s involvement in the issue.
In the backdrop of the crisis, the presence of regional and UN peacekeepers has added to the tension. Thirteen South African peacekeepers lost their lives in the conflict, leading to heated exchanges between Rwanda and South Africa, with Kagame warning of potential confrontation if necessary.
Despite international calls for Rwanda to pull its forces from DR Congo, including threats from the UK and Germany to suspend aid, Kagame has maintained that Rwanda’s involvement is justified due to alleged Congolese support for militias seeking to destabilize Rwanda. This has fueled an already volatile situation, with fears of further escalation and a broader regional conflict.
As M23 rebels consolidate their control over Goma and push south toward Bukavu, the international community is scrambling to find a solution. Angola, which has previously mediated failed peace talks, has called for urgent dialogue between Tshisekedi and Kagame to prevent further bloodshed and stabilize the region.
In the same vein, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame is accusing President Cyril Ramaphosa and government officials of “lying” and “distorting” talks between the two statesmen in his Wednesday statement to South Africans.
Taking to social media after the release of the tweets and statements by the South African government, Kagame called out his counterpart, fuelling speculation that relations between the two governments had taken a nosedive.
