This Sunday, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) expressed serious concerns over what it views as a troubling pattern: “withdrawing from agreements or obstructing dialogue when accountability is demanded.” The DRC also accused Rwanda of violating Article 34 of the ECCAS treaty after blocking Rwanda’s leadership within the regional body.
Kinshasa believes this behavior, which it claims has been “tolerated for too long,” has led to “a lack of follow-through on agreements, rendering them ineffective.” The Congolese government made this statement following Rwanda’s recent withdrawal from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
The DRC further emphasized that its conflict with Rwanda has been aggravated by provocative actions, notably condemned in UN Security Council Resolution 2773, which calls for the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory. According to Kinshasa, such actions are in clear violation of Article 34 of the revised ECCAS treaty, which forbids the use of force among member states.
“Laws are either fully enforced or lose all effectiveness,” stated Kinshasa, reaffirming its commitment to peace efforts led by the African Union, Qatar, and the United States.
The DRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized:
“Participating in peace processes does not mean erasing the past or granting impunity for serious crimes.”
It called on regional and international actors to “back up their commitments to the law, responsibilities, and national sovereignty with concrete actions.”
