Bisimwa Fires Back at Tshisekedi for Linking President Kagame to AFC/M23

Bertrand Bisimwa, the Deputy Leader of the Congolese armed and political coalition AFC/M23, has hit back at Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi, rejecting his claims that Rwandan President Paul Kagame controls the movement or directs its actions.

During the EU–Africa Global Gateway Forum held on October 9, 2025, in Brussels, Tshisekedi once again accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels an allegation Kigali has consistently and firmly denied.

Presenting himself as a man of peace, Tshisekedi told the summit he wanted to see Rwandans and Congolese live in harmony. However, he argued that peace would only be possible if M23, which controls large areas of eastern DRC, agreed to lay down its arms.

“This requires you, President Kagame, to order your M23 fighters, who are supported by your country, to stop the fighting that has caused so many deaths,” Tshisekedi declared.

Shortly after Tshisekedi’s comments, President Kagame appeared to respond indirectly on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“If someone makes an issue of the noise made by an empty drum, they too have a problem! It’s better to let it pass or walk away from it!”

In a follow-up statement, Bisimwa said Tshisekedi’s call for reconciliation with Kagame concerns relations between Rwanda and the DRC, not the AFC/M23. He added that the Congolese president must also seek reconciliation with M23 by first honoring promises he made to the group.

“The reconciliation Tshisekedi called for with President Kagame concerns both countries, not us. We are still waiting for him to reconcile with AFC/M23, starting with fulfilling the commitments he made to us. That’s where everything began. One cannot speak with authority while failing to respect their own word,” Bisimwa said.

The roots of the renewed M23 rebellion trace back to November 2021, when the group took up arms again after Tshisekedi refused to integrate its members into national security forces, despite pledging to do so during 14 months of peace talks in Kinshasa.

The integration was meant to allow former rebels to contribute to national stability, particularly in the volatile east, where more than 200 armed groups operate.

For years, Tshisekedi has refused to negotiate with M23, branding it a terrorist organization that must be dismantled. However, in early 2025, after the rebels captured Goma and Bukavu, he reluctantly agreed to indirect talks under heavy international pressure.

Since March 2025, Qatar has been mediating discussions between representatives of the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 in an effort to end the conflict. Yet, ongoing clashes in North and South Kivu provinces have undermined progress.

AFC/M23 Secretary-General Benjamin Mbonimpa criticized Tshisekedi’s latest remarks as a major setback, saying they make it difficult to send negotiators to Doha, where talks are scheduled to resume next week.

“It’s a serious problem to send envoys to Doha to meet representatives of a president who keeps changing positions,” Mbonimpa said.

Qatar, meanwhile, has expressed its intention to reconvene both delegations next week to discuss a ceasefire and a roadmap toward a lasting peace agreement between the two sides.