Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi will not attend the virtual emergency summit of East African Community (EAC) leaders, which was organized to address the ongoing conflict in his country.
The meeting, called by Kenya’s President William Ruto in his capacity as the current EAC chair, was meant to facilitate high-level discussions between Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
The goal was to find a lasting solution to the escalating war in eastern DRC. However, Tshisekedi has opted out, effectively snubbing the summit.
Presidential spokesperson Tina Salama confirmed that Tshisekedi would not be attending, citing scheduling conflicts.
His absence, however, raises questions, as both leaders had initially been expected to participate. The decision also deepens tensions between the DRC and Kenya, with Congolese officials increasingly viewing Ruto as a biased mediator.
Growing Distrust Between Tshisekedi and Ruto
Tshisekedi’s reluctance to engage in the summit comes at a time when relations between Kinshasa and Nairobi are strained.
A key point of contention is Ruto’s push for direct negotiations between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels. The DRC government has consistently resisted this approach, arguing that it legitimizes the rebel group, which Kinshasa accuses of being backed by Rwanda.
The tensions between Tshisekedi and Ruto are not new. The DRC leader has repeatedly accused the Kenyan president of siding with Rwanda in the conflict.
Last year, Tshisekedi openly criticized Ruto’s handling of the Nairobi Peace Process, which was initially spearheaded by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. During an event at the Brookings Institution, Tshisekedi dismissed the EAC-led initiative as poorly managed and declared it “dead.”
He insisted that Kenyatta should remain in charge of mediation efforts, saying, “I must confess, President Ruto is supporting Rwanda, and I won’t say anything more about that.”
Failed Peace Talks and Escalating Violence
Tensions between the DRC and Rwanda continue to mount, and past attempts at peace talks have yielded little success. On December 15 last year, a planned meeting between Tshisekedi and Kagame to discuss the security crisis was canceled after both sides failed to agree on preconditions.
Meanwhile, the conflict in eastern DRC has worsened, with the M23 rebels advancing towards Goma, the largest city in the region with a population of about two million people. The escalation has led to chaos, sporadic gunfire, and the displacement of thousands of civilians.
The violence has also affected Rwanda’s border town of Rubavu, where business operations and school activities have been disrupted. The fighting has created fear and uncertainty among residents in the area, further straining relations between the two neighboring countries.
Anti-Kenya Protests in Kinshasa
Amid these tensions, protests erupted in Kinshasa, where demonstrators stormed the embassies of the United States, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. Protesters vandalized property, an act that sparked widespread condemnation from the affected nations.
With Tshisekedi skipping the emergency summit, it remains unclear how the EAC will proceed with peace efforts in the DRC. His absence signals a deepening rift within the regional bloc and raises concerns over whether a diplomatic solution to the crisis is still achievable.
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