Brussels, 5 July 2022 (TDI): The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles, issued a statement commending Angola’s President João Lourenço’s efforts at mediating the conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He added by extending the EU’s invite to all active parties to attend the Angolan-backed dialogue and condemned the M23 rebel group.
A la veille de la rencontre organisée par le Président Lourenço entre les Présidents du #Rwanda et de #RDC, l’UE invite tous les pays parties concernées à s’impliquer activement et à éviter tout ce qui est de nature à entraver le processus. #AUEU @UrugwiroVillage @Presidence_RDC https://t.co/p3sVPomKxi
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) July 4, 2022
EU’s Stance on Eastern DR Congo Situation
The conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has resurged since the M23 rebel group resumed attacks against the Congolese army in the eastern DR Congo near the Rwandan and Ugandan borders.
DR Congo has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels. Rwanda has denied it and counter-charged DR Congo of collaborating with Rwandan Hutu rebels of the Front Democratiques pour la Liberation de Rwanda (FDLR) which were accused of the 1994 genocide against Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda.
The EU has condemned the resurgent attacks of M23 and supported regional initiatives at peace such as the joint FARDC-MONUSCO operations against the armed group.
Dialogue efforts extended by the East African Community in the form of the Nairobi Conclave and the Angolan President’s initiative have also been lauded.
Angolan Mediated Rwanda-DR Congo Talks
As the current Chairman of the African Union, Angolan President João Lourenço has initiated regional mediation efforts to curb tensions between Rwanda and DR Congo.
Talks between President Felix Tshisekedi of DR Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda are set to take place in Angola’s capital Luanda on 6 July 2022.
As soon as the two dignitaries arrive at the Angolan capital, the summit will begin. The EU has encouraged all parties actively partaking in the conflict to attend the dialogue process in order to find a regional solution.
