Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe held productive discussions with Lord Collins of Highbury, UK Minister of Africa focused on topics of common interests and the current security situation in the Great Lakes Region.
Minister Nduhungirehe reiterated Rwanda’s position for an inclusive dialogue between the warring parties in the Eastern DRC, and for a results-oriented political process to address the root causes of the conflict in Eastern DRC.
Rwanda maintains that DRC has not shown the political will and honesty to address the causes of the decades-long conflict.
Rwanda emphasizes that lasting peace cannot be achieved without the government of DRC taking proactive steps to discuss with congolese groups such as M23, whose issues can only be addressed through a political dialogue.
The Congolese government refuses to engage in dialogue with the M23 armed group, despite previous commitments under the Luanda process.
The crisis is linked to an offensive by members of the March 23 Movement (M23), which Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting. Rwanda has also accused the DRC of supporting the FDLR genocidal group. Congo and Rwanda deny supporting the FDLR and M23 respectively. (End)