Fact-checking of President Tshisekedi’s Address at the Global Gateway Forum 2025 in Brussels

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Fact-checking of President Tshisekedi’s Address at the Global Gateway Forum 2025 in Brussels

9 October 2025

President Tshisekedi: “Since I was elected in 2019, during my first term, I have visited all my nine neighbouring countries, particularly Rwanda and Uganda, with which we had tensions, to propose that we work together to bring our peoples and our communities closer, for their development and well-being.”

Since 1999, more than 10 peace agreements have been reached and signed but never implemented because of lack of political will by the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and insistence by his government to pursue a military solution.
The DRC government has mobilized and encouraged dehumanizing speech, persecution, ethnic cleansing and exile of some Congolese communities within the DRC, with the blame being placed on Rwanda.

President Tshisekedi: “At no time have I displayed any belligerent attitude whatsoever towards Rwanda or Uganda or any other of our nine neighbors.”

The President of the DRC has repeatedly and publicly used hostile rhetoric against Rwanda, particularly during his re-election campaign where he called the President of Rwanda “Hitler” and threatened to declare war against Rwanda. Bragged about DRC drones and bombing Kigali. He pledged to “work with enemies of Rwanda” to overthrow the Government of Rwanda and “liberate the Rwandan people”. The hostile and belligerent attitude has been in constant display by the President of the DRC at every regional and international forum, including calling for hardline measures and sanctions against Rwanda at the UN General Assembly. Same attitude of scapegoating by DRC officials in every international forum, no matter the topic.
Officials locally in DRC continue to whip up hatred and hostility among Congolese blaming everything that goes wrong on Rwanda, to the point of ridiculousness.
This includes the former DRC justice minister who repeatedly targeted and threatened Rwandans and Congolese Tutsi and then blamed Rwanda after being convicted and sentenced to prison for embezzlement.
Inculcating anti-Tutsi and anti-Rwanda hate ideology to children in DRC schools. Targeted campaigns against Rwanda to governments around the world. Attempted sabotage of Visit Rwanda international sports partnerships. Rwandan citizens have been arbitrarily arrested, detained and tortured in Kinshasa prisons. At least two have been confirmed dead in detention. DRC closed its airspace to civilian flights originating in Rwanda. Numerous frivolous cases brought against Rwanda, attempts at “forum shopping”.
More than 20 cross-border attacks and Rwandan airspace violations since 2019, including shelling in late January 2025 on Rubavu (Western Rwanda) by the Congolese army and its coalition that killed 16 Rwandan civilians.

President Tshisekedi: “Today, we are experiencing this situation and we are the only two capable of stopping this escalation.”

That ship has sailed – only the President of the DRC himself is capable of stopping “this escalation” by focusing on doing what needs to be done, through the existing peace mechanisms.
Rwanda has already tried repeatedly to resolve obstacles to peace bilaterally, particularly the security threat of the DRC-backed FDLR but the DRC decided to pursue a military solution, calling in foreign troops and mercenaries to get involved in its internal conflict, and targeting Rwanda.
The President of the DRC has ignored and disrespected political and diplomatic agreements by the region (EAC, SADC, AU) to resolve the conflict and achieve peace. He continues to block implementation of the Washington Peace Agreement, notably by refusing to dismantle and stop DRC state sponsorship of the FDLR, which is co-located and fighting with the Congolese army. The President of the DRC also refused last minute to approve the Regional Economic Integration Framework which had been finalised with no objections from the Rwandan and DRC delegations.
Implementation of these agreements is reciprocal and monitored by the parties involved in the process, as outlined in the agreements.

President Tshisekedi: “I say this with the witness of President João Lourenço, our current chairman of the African Union, to whom I pay special tribute for his involvement in this crisis and who, as you know, was within a stone's throw of resolving it definitively.But unfortunately, for no reason, at least I have never heard one until today, you boycotted this ceremony when we were already 98% of the way to a lasting peace.”

Rwanda chose not to participate in an empty photo opportunity in Luanda and explained in a public statement (cf. STATEMENT) that the DRC had refused to act on its pledge to negotiate with its internal rebellion which was a source of insecurity for Rwanda.

President Tshisekedi: “But it is not too late to do the right thing and that is why I call upon this forum, and through it, the whole world, to extend a hand to you, Mr. President, so that we can make peace for the brave and this requires that you order the M23 troops, supported by your country, to stop this escalation which has caused enough deaths as it is.”

The President of the DRC has repeatedly failed to do the right thing. Peace in the DRC will be achieved by committing to negotiations with AFC/M23 Congolese rebel movement that the DRC agreed to participate in through the ongoing Doha process.
De-escalation is in the hands of the President of the DRC, by neutralizing the FDLR, disarming/demobilizing Wazalendo militia and stopping the accumulation of thousands of hostile Burundian army troops that have flooded South Kivu – all focused on working with the FARDC to violate the ceasefire, and attack civilian settlements.

President Tshisekedi: “We have been counting them in the millions for years; history will judge us. It is time to stop and turn towards peace and development.”

This is a historically made-up number, with no basis in reality

President Tshisekedi: “I thank President Cyril Ramaphosa, who came to our side, who did not hesitate to send his troops, some of whom fell on the field of honour in our country, to the front, which obliges us to remain definitively grateful to the Republic of South Africa and the others, the sister republics of Tanzania and Malawi, who had also contributed troops.”

SADC troops were needlessly drawn into and suffered casualties in eastern DRC as belligerents in a Congolese internal conflict, as well as DRC plans to attack Rwanda. The SADC troops were defeated and then released after the fall of Goma, and have since left, having been granted safe passage through Rwanda. Also released and granted safe passage through Rwanda were 300 European mercenaries hired by the DRC government to fight its own citizens.

President Tshisekedi: “But I believe that Africa today needs to move on, Mr. President Paul Kagame, and we are capable of doing so. Let us simply have the courage to look ourselves in the face, to say what is wrong and to make decisions, the right ones for our people.”

The obstacles to peace are well known. Peace agreements and roadmaps exist. What lacks is sincerity and the political will to carry through on the part of the DRC, and a President who prefers to constantly play the victim and blame others.

President Tshisekedi: “And so, the plea that I had planned to call for sanctions, I prefer to suspend it for the moment, obviously waiting to have the response from President Kagame, because I also saw here in the room the emissary of President Donald Trump, whose involvement in the crisis affecting my country I welcome, and through him also our friends and brothers from Qatar with its emir, President Lourenço, who is also at our side for this”.

The endless scapegoating and appeals by the DRC for sanctions against Rwanda are not a solution and will not bring peace, neither will the incessant mediation shopping. Rwanda will not compromise its national security because of threats of sanctions. The DRC must focus on implementing existing peace agreements, and concluding negotiations in the Doha process.

President Tshisekedi: “I believe this call is proof that the Democratic Republic of Congo is not belligerent. The Democratic Republic of Congo wants peace, true peace that will bring stability and enable the development of this region, which for me is one of the most beautiful regions in the world, that is to say, this Great Lakes region. I hope that this call will be heard by President Kagame, and I tell him that I am ready to discuss this situation.”

Empty words, lies, and distortions will not result in the peace that all the countries of the Great Lakes region need. President Tshisekedi must keep his word, respect and implement agreements the DRC has signed, and not take for granted regional and international partners that are investing in ongoing peace processes.

END

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