Luanda - The resurgence of the conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda was analysed Tuesday in Luanda at the meeting between the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, and his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi.
The Angolan statesman, mediator of this conflict that has been going on for more than five years, has been in regular contact with the Presidents of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi, and Rwanda, Paul Kagame, with a view to seeking a solution of stability, security and peace in that region.
After the end of the meeting, the Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, present at the meeting, informed the press that the two leaders analysed the situation prevailing at the moment in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
'As we know it is a situation that worries the continent, after the meeting of the Peace and Security Council that was recently held in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), rightly dedicated to this conflict, it is necessary to see the next steps regarding the search for solutions to the tense situation that we all know,' Téte António.
The Minister considered the situation 'worrying' for the African continent, and even more so, for those who have the responsibility to assess, not only for the same situation, but for the fate of the African Union (AU), chaired, since last Saturday, by the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço.
The political-military situation in the DRC has deteriorated rapidly due to the actions of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
After the occupation of Goma, capital of North Kivu province, in January 2025, rebels advanced and took Bukavu, the second largest city in the east of the country and capital of South Kivu, on February 16 of this year.
The occupation of Bukavu followed the withdrawal of Congolese armed forces, resulting in chaos, looting, and massive displacement of civilians.
It is estimated that more than 100,000 people have sought refuge on the island of Idjwi in Lake Kivu.
Although the ports of Goma and Bukavu have been reopened by the rebels, facilitating boat traffic and improving the delivery of humanitarian aid, Goma's airport remains closed, limiting relief efforts.
The M23, composed mostly of Tutsis, claims to defend its community against Hutu militias allied with the Congolese army.
However, the DRC government accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels to exploit the region's rich mineral resources, especially coltan, which is essential for the manufacture of electronic devices.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for dialogue to avoid a wider regional war.
However, diplomatic efforts to date have failed to contain the violence and the humanitarian situation continues to worsen, with millions of internally displaced people and reports of serious human rights violations. AFL/ART/DOJ
