Congo's Tshisekedi calls on Rwanda to make peace as diplomacy stumbles

10/10/2025 6:26

Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi used a speech to an investment forum in Brussels on Thursday to publicly appeal to his Rwandan counterpart to help end an insurgency by M23 rebels, though Kigali accused him posturing.



Mediation efforts by the U.S. and Qatar to end the conflict have encountered setbacks and fighting continues in eastern Congo, where thousands have been killed this year and hundreds of thousands displaced.



"It is not too late to do things right," Tshisekedi said during the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels. "I take this forum as a witness to extend my hand to you, Mr. President, so that we can make peace between brave men," he said, directly addressing Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who was present at the event.

Tshisekedi also said Rwanda needed to tell M23 to stop its military escalation in order to make peace.