Luanda - The President of the Republic of Angola João Lourenço travelled Monday to Kinsaha, Democratic Republic of Congo, for talks with his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi.
At the 4 Fevereiro International Airport, President João Lourenço received farewell greetings from the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, among other individuals present.
The visit is part of diplomatic efforts to ensure compliance with the new ceasefire agreement, signed on 30 July in Luanda between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, under the mediation of João Lourenço.
In force since August 4, the new ceasefire in eastern DRC has been the cause of strong diplomatic movement involving Angola, the United States, South Africa, the DRC and Rwanda.
Last weekend, João Lourenço was in Kigali, where he discussed the issue with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, on the sidelines of the latter's investiture ceremony for a new five-year term at the helm of Rwanda.
Before his trip, President João Lourenço, as the African Union (AU) mediator in the conflict, spoke by phone with Kagame and Tshisekedi about the consolidation of the peace process in the DRC.
He also held a meeting in Luanda with his counterpart from South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, who thanked João de Lourenço for his efforts in seeking peace in the region.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of actively supporting the M23 rebellion in the conflict raging in the east of the country, allegations repeatedly refuted by the Rwandan authorities.
At the same time, Kinshasa also accuses Rwanda and the M23 of trying to seize the mineral resources of the east of the country.
For its part, the M23, one of more than 100 armed groups active in the region, claims to be defending a threatened part of the Tutsi population living in the province of North Kivu.
The M23 was formed on April 4, 2012, when about 300 soldiers of the Armed Forces of the DRC rose up for alleged non-compliance with the peace agreement of March 23, 2009, which gives the movement its name.
After the loss of power of its then leader, Bosco Ntaganda, the movement took up arms again at the end of 2021, after a decade of dormancy.
Since then, it has conquered large areas of North Kivu territory and displaced hundreds of thousands of people in this eastern province.
The United Nations points to more than seven million displaced people in the region, in what constitutes one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world.
President accuses predecessor
Last week, the President of Félix Tshisekedi accused his predecessor, Joseph Kabila, of preparing an 'insurrection' and of belonging to an armed rebel movement.
Joseph Kabila is 'preparing an insurrection', Tshisekedi said.
He also is accusing his predecessor of coordinating or belonging to the French Congo Alliance (AFC), a political-military movement that includes the M23.
'AFC is him', assured Tshisekedi, in an interview given to Congolese radio Top Congo, in Belgium, where he was undergoing medical treatment.
Last December, Corneille Nanga, former president of the DRC Electoral Commission, announced the creation of the AFC together with the M23.
Several members of Joseph Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) have joined the AFC and are awaiting the verdict of a military court in Kinshasa, where they could face the death penalty.
Joseph Kabila came to power in 2001 after the assassination of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997.
In January 2019, Kabila handed over power to Félix Tshisekedi, a former opponent, declared winner of the December 2018 presidential elections, marking the first peaceful transfer of power since the country's independence in 1960.
After two years of conflicting 'co-management' of the country, Tshisekedi declared a break with Kabila's political clan and, since then, the former President has remained very discreet in his appearances, never taking a position on political issues in the country. country. VIC/DOJ
