February 13, 2025
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Angola Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Politics Rwanda South Africa

Key statements from João Lourenço, Paul Kagame, and Félix Tshisekedi amidst regional crisis

Kinshasa, DRC – The deepening crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has triggered a wave of strong statements from regional leaders, each staking out their position on the ongoing conflict. Angolan President João Lourenço, acting as a key mediator under the Luanda Peace Process, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and DRC’s President Félix Tshisekedi have all weighed in on the mounting hostilities.

 

AfricaHeadline Reports Team
editorial@africaheadline.com 

 

The situation has become increasingly volatile following the latest offensive by the M23 rebel group, which seized key areas in North Kivu, including strategic positions near the city of Goma. The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of backing the rebels—allegations Kigali continues to deny. Meanwhile, regional and international diplomatic efforts remain deadlocked, with calls for immediate de-escalation clashing against the realities of the battlefield.

João Lourenço: “We demand the immediate withdrawal of foreign forces”

On January 30, 2025, in Luanda, President João Lourenço issued a firm warning, calling for the immediate withdrawal of both the M23 rebels and Rwandan troops from Congolese territory. As the lead mediator in the Luanda Peace Process, Lourenço emphasized the urgency of restoring peace through dialogue but warned of potential consequences if agreements were not respected.

“We deplore the occupation of Goma and call for the immediate withdrawal of the M23 from illegally occupied territories.”

Lourenço’s comments came during an extraordinary summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), convened to address the crisis. The summit, attended by representatives from the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the East African Community (EAC), sought to reaffirm commitments made in previous peace talks.

“We demand the immediate withdrawal of the Rwanda Defense Forces from Congolese territory to create the necessary conditions for regional stabilization,” Lourenço added.

However, skepticism remains over whether diplomatic efforts alone will be enough to curb the violence. Several previous ceasefires, including those brokered under the Nairobi and Luanda processes, have failed to hold.

Paul Kagame: “Rwanda will respond to any confrontation”

On February 1, 2025, President Paul Kagame addressed the Rwandan Parliament in Kigali, where he dismissed accusations of Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict and issued a defiant warning against external interventions.

“If South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda is ready to deal with it in that context any day.”

Kagame’s remarks were in response to the deployment of South African troops to eastern DRC under the SADC intervention force, a move seen as a direct challenge to Rwandan influence in the region. The deployment, part of a broader African peacekeeping effort, has been met with mixed reactions, with some fearing it could further escalate tensions between regional powers.

Despite the heated rhetoric, Kagame also signaled openness to diplomatic engagement.

“We agree with the U.S. government on the need for a ceasefire in eastern DRC,” he said, referencing discussions held with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.

Observers note that while Kagame remains defiant, international pressure on Rwanda has been increasing, particularly from Washington and Brussels, with threats of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation if Kigali fails to distance itself from the M23.

Félix Tshisekedi: “Our youth must enlist in the army”

As the crisis deepened, President Félix Tshisekedi took a more militaristic stance, calling on Congolese youth to mobilize in defense of the nation. Speaking in Kinshasa on February 2, 2025, he delivered a rallying cry during a televised national address.

“I call on our young people to enlist massively in the army because you are the spearhead of our nation.”

Tshisekedi’s speech came after reports confirmed that M23 rebels had advanced closer to Sake, a town 27 kilometers from Goma, raising fears of a full-scale battle for control of the city. The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of orchestrating the rebel offensive to destabilize the country ahead of upcoming presidential elections scheduled for late 2025.

“A strong and coordinated response against these terrorists and their sponsors is underway,” Tshisekedi declared.

His government has ramped up its military recruitment campaign, with enlistment centers set up in Kinshasa, Goma, and Bukavu. In addition, the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) have received new military supplies from South Africa and Egypt, part of a growing regional coalition aimed at countering the rebels.

 

The ongoing hostilities have heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, with the crisis now drawing in multiple international actors.

The United Nations has warned of an impending humanitarian catastrophe, with over 500,000 people displaced since the start of 2025 and urgent appeals for humanitarian assistance falling short.

Meanwhile, Angola’s mediation efforts continue, but with little sign of a breakthrough.

Sources close to the Luanda Peace Process indicate that backchannel negotiations between Rwanda and the DRC have stalled over disagreements on troop withdrawals and the reintegration of M23 fighters into the Congolese army.

Diplomatic efforts by the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Security Council have also intensified, with AU Chairperson Azali Assoumani warning that the Great Lakes region cannot afford another full-scale war.

“The security situation in eastern DRC is deteriorating at an unprecedented rate,” Tshisekedi admitted, while Kagame and Lourenço maintain their diplomatic maneuvers.

With the stakes rising and tensions running high, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the region moves toward a fragile peace—or slides further into conflict.

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