Minister Nduhungirehe Blasts President Tshisekedi’s “Shameful Political Drama” Over Rwanda-DRC Relations

Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, has strongly criticized DR Congo President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, describing his recent remarks about Rwanda as a “shameful political drama.”

Speaking to journalist Venuste Nshimiyimana of Agasaro Kaburaga, Minister Nduhungirehe said Tshisekedi’s comments made during the Global Gateway Forum an EU-Africa and developing nations partnership meeting were deceptive and politically motivated.

During the forum, President Tshisekedi denied ever planning to attack Rwanda and claimed that President Paul Kagame was the only one capable of ordering the M23 rebel group to stop fighting.

“What President Tshisekedi did was nothing but a disgraceful political play,” said Nduhungirehe. “We were at an economic partnership forum between the EU and developing countries, and the reason I call it a drama is that he knows very well Rwanda extended its hand of peace. We even signed an agreement on June 27.”

He explained that the stage of diplomatic goodwill had been completed and that the remaining challenge lay in implementing what was agreed, something the DRC had shown little political will to do.

Nduhungirehe accused Tshisekedi of contradicting his own words, saying the Congolese leader’s actions and rhetoric prove he has long harbored intentions to attack Rwanda.

“His statements are outright lies. The heavy weapons found in Goma show there was a plan to attack Rwanda. He has even said publicly that he could bomb Kigali without sending his troops into Rwanda and that he could overthrow the Rwandan government,” he said.

The minister recalled that Tshisekedi had made such remarks in political meetings and on Congolese radio, while also collaborating with the FDLR, a militia composed of remnants of the 1994 Genocide perpetrators, as well as Burundian forces and foreign mercenaries active in eastern DRC.

According to Nduhungirehe, President Tshisekedi himself holds the key to ending the conflict in eastern Congo.

“It is Tshisekedi who has the power to stop this war. We signed the Washington Agreement, yet he continues to use heavy weaponry, fighter jets, and drones to bomb AFC/M23 positions and Banyamulenge communities in violation of the ceasefire,” he said.

He further revealed that while Rwanda and DRC delegations had agreed to sign economic cooperation accords, Tshisekedi later instructed his team not to sign them.

“He should have spoken about fulfilling the commitments in the peace agreements and allowing his envoys to sign the economic cooperation deal. That would have been a victory. But to come and claim he’s offering a hand of peace while ignoring signed agreements is what I call a political drama of the highest order,” Nduhungirehe added.

The minister concluded by noting that talks between the DRC government and the AFC/M23 coalition are expected to continue in Doha, Qatar, as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the instability in eastern Congo.