Rwandan President Paul Kagame has strongly criticized African leaders for their failure to effectively address the ongoing crisis in the Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking at the 24th Extraordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State, held virtually on Wednesday evening, Kagame expressed his concerns over the mishandling of the situation and the lack of meaningful progress in resolving the conflict.
Kagame pointed out that efforts to bring peace to the DRC had been undermined by personal interests and entitlements among the leaders involved.
He specifically highlighted the Nairobi Process, a peace initiative led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, noting that such initiatives had become more about the leaders than the actual resolution of the crisis.
“The processes became an end in themselves, and the people leading these processes became more important than the outcome,” Kagame said.
He went on to call the Nairobi Process the “Uhuru process,” suggesting that it had lost its true focus and had become overly centered around the individual leading it.
“Even the international community became confused,” Kagame added, referring to the inconsistent messages surrounding the crisis and the role of Rwanda and the Nairobi Process.
The summit, convened by Kenyan President William Ruto, aimed to find a way to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the DRC, where ongoing clashes between the government and the M23 rebel group have been escalating.
These tensions have not only affected the DRC’s internal stability but also led to attacks on foreign embassies, including Kenya’s.
Kagame also expressed dissatisfaction with other African leaders, particularly South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Angola’s President João Lourenço.
He accused them of hindering efforts to resolve the crisis in the region by prioritizing their own interests. “You cannot say anything against President Lourenço without facing repercussions.
This does not help address the serious issues we are facing today,” Kagame stated, criticizing the Luanda Process.
He also mentioned his recent discussions with President Ramaphosa, who sought his input regarding South Africa’s involvement in the Eastern Congo conflict, which Kagame described as Ramaphosa “pretending to be a peacemaker.”
The situation in Eastern DRC has been dire, with heavy fighting over the weekend between M23 rebels and government forces, particularly in the city of Goma.
This has led to a significant humanitarian crisis, with the UN reporting that over 400,000 people have been displaced by the violence.
The conflict has also spilled over the border into Rwanda, affecting daily life in Rubavu, a town bordering DRC.
The conflict has disrupted schools and businesses, further exacerbating the challenges faced by civilians on both sides of the border.
Kagame’s remarks reflect growing frustration with the lack of effective leadership and coordination in addressing the DRC’s ongoing crisis, and his calls for a more focused and less personal approach to peacebuilding in the region.
Join Kenyan Gen z and millennials official 2025 WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time the ongoing situation https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
Tiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@news.hub88?_t=ZM-8sz45qJid3V&_r=1
