Dans cet épisode d’Afrique 360°, Enrica Picco et Rinaldo Depagne reçoivent Richard Moncrieff, directeur du projet des Grands Lacs, et Onesphore Sematumba, analyste pour la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) et le Burundi à International Crisis Group, pour parler du conflit meurtrier à l’est de la RDC et de ses conséquences humanitaires dévastatrices.
Regional diplomatic efforts to ease tensions with DR Congo (DRC) intensified amid continued war of words between Kigali and Kinshasa.
Angolan mediation continued to gain some traction despite persistent aggressive Rwandan and Congolese rhetoric. During inaugural address as he was sworn in for fourth term, President Kagame 11 Aug criticised Kinshasa’s handling of crisis in eastern DRC, although he praised mediation by Angolan President Lourenço and Kenyan President Ruto. Earlier, Congolese President Tshisekedi 6 Aug called Kagame “criminal” and said he wanted to ask him “why he is killing in my country”. In continued Angolan-led efforts, Lourenço met with Kagame on sidelines of inauguration and following day met Tshisekedi in DRC capital Kinshasa; members of southern African regional body SADC – which has deployed security force in eastern DRC – 17 Aug endorsed Lourenço’s peace diplomacy. Series of further tri-lateral meetings took place in Angolan capital Luanda; intelligence experts from Angola, DRC and Rwanda 7 Aug reviewed joint plan to combat anti-Rwandan militia Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, key Kigali demand. Later, Rwandan FM Nduhungirehe and Congolese counterpart Wagner 20-21 Aug met for third ministerial meeting, amid hopes engagement could lead to Kagame-Tshisekedi summit; event, however, ended without any compromise, with further ministerial meeting scheduled for 9-10 Sept in Luanda. As fighting continued on ground in DRC, Kinshasa 29 Aug announced it filed case against Kigali at East African Court of Justice, accusing Rwanda of violating its sovereignty and of crimes against civilians.
Rwanda has become a major player in the Central African Republic, helping the government fight insurgents, supporting state reforms and investing in numerous businesses. This engagement has rewards but also comes with risks. Bangui and Kigali should act now to minimise the latter.
This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood speaks with Richard Moncrieff, Crisis Group’s interim Great Lakes project director, about an incident in which Rwanda's army shot at a Congolese fighter jet, raising fears that tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali could boil over.
Already high tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa have risen sharply after Rwanda’s defence forces shot at a Congolese warplane they accuse of violating Rwandan airspace. In this Q&A, Crisis Group examines why the situation has deteriorated and outlines pathways toward de-escalation.
Fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is intensifying, with Ugandan and Burundian soldiers in pursuit of rebels and Congolese insurgents on the rebound. With help from its allies, Kinshasa should step up diplomacy lest the country become a regional battleground once more.
This week on Hold Your Fire! Richard Atwood talks to Great Lakes expert Nelleke van de Walle about the escalation of violence in the eastern DR Congo, as Uganda and Burundi deploy troops to fight rebels in the area and Rwanda threatens to do the same.
President Tshisekedi’s plans for joint operations with DR Congo’s belligerent eastern neighbours against its rebels risks regional proxy warfare. In this excerpt from our Watch List 2020 for European policymakers, Crisis Group urges the EU to encourage diplomatic efforts in the region and Tshisekedi to shelve his plan for the joint operations.
Three Great Lakes states – Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda – are trading charges of subversion, each accusing another of sponsoring rebels based in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Outside powers should help the Congolese president resolve these tensions, lest a lethal multi-sided melee ensue.
Testimony by Mark L. Schneider, Senior Vice President, International Crisis Group to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights on “Examining the Role of Rwanda in the DRC Insurgency”.
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