M23 rebels have resumed attacks in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo because they are supported and armed by Rwanda, according to DRC President Felix Tshisekedi. He was visiting Saturday and Sunday in Oyo, stronghold of his Congolese counterpart Denis Sassou Nguesso who, for his part, thinks that the leaders of the two countries must be encouraged to favor dialogue.
DRC President Félix Tshisekedi claims to have ” no doubt on Rwanda’s support for a rebellion that came attack his country, while repeating his wish to maintain peaceful relations with his neighbours. The new Congolese-Rwandan crisis, caused by the resurgence in the east of the DRC of the former Tutsi rebellion of the M23 was on the menu of discussions this weekend between the president of the DRC and his Congolese neighbor Denis Sassou-Nguesso in his stronghold at Oyo, some 400 km north of Brazzaville.
“ I have always maintained that it is better to build bridges than to build walls. This has always been my leitmotif. Unfortunately, today we are where we are. I hope the situation will not stay there. “, Félix Tshisekedi told the press. ” The fact of wanting peace, fraternity and solidarity is not a weakness “, he observed. ” The DRC that I lead and the one I want to see is a country where peace, security and hospitality reign, because our country has always been hospitable. But this should not be an opportunity for neighbors to come and provoke us “, he continued visibly concerned.
” I hope that Rwanda has learned this lesson because today it is clear, there is no doubt, Rwanda supported the M23 to attack the DRC “, clearly accused the Congolese president. “ As proof of this, the simple fact that in 2013, the same M23s had been totally defeated and their arsenal confiscated. If today they have recovered from the hair of the beast, it means that they have started from somewhere; then armed somewhere “, he concluded with bitterness.
President Sassou Nguesso for his part declared ” confident about resolving this crisis. ” I think we will quickly overcome these difficulties and bring peace through dialogue “, did he declare.