DR Congo Suspending all Agreements with Rwanda over M23

The Democratic Republic of Congo High Council of Defence has asked the Kinshasa government to suspend all agreements with Rwanda for allegedly supporting the M23 rebels.

Patrick Muyaya, the government spokesman, said the decision was reached in a Wednesday, June 15 meeting held in the capital Kinshasa.

“The High Council of Defence asks the Congolese government to suspend all agreements concluded with Rwanda,” said Muyaya while announcing several resolutions by President Félix Tshisekedi and the High Council of Defence.

In June 2021, President Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame signed a commercial deal on exploiting gold.

The agreement provided for a Congolese company, Société aurifère du Kivu et du Maniema (Sakima SA), and a Rwandan firm, Dither Ltd, to mine and refine gold in the DRC in order to deprive the armed groups of the revenue.

The two states also signed agreements on the prevention of tax evasion and double taxation and the promotion and protection of investments.

When reports emerged that Rwanda was behind the re-emergence of M23 rebellion, Kinshasa responded by suspending the Rwandan national carrier RwandAir from flying to DR Congo.

The High Council of Defence then summoned the Rwandan ambassador to DR Congo and even hinted at cutting diplomatic ties with Kigali.

Not much action was taken and in due course, M23 rebel movement on Monday seized Bunagana, a key town in eastern DRC.

This sparked demonstrations in Goma city as Congolese demanded an end to all ties with Rwanda while some asked for guns to fight along with government troops.

Muyaya said Wednesday that the council is now demanding that all protocols of agreements, accords and conventions concluded with Rwanda be suspended.