蜜芽传媒

It's not every day that the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo (the DRC) and Rwanda are seen side-by-side, as tensions between the two countries have been running high over security issues. Both countries have traded accusations about support for rebel groups active in the region - specifically the M23 rebels in eastern Congo and the FDLR in the Great Lakes region.

But at the invitation of the French president Emmanuel Macron - as they are both attending the UN General Assembly in New York - Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame sat down together for lunch and to talk peace. The French presidency later issued a statement saying the three leaders want to "intensify cooperation to fight impunity and put an end to activities of armed groups in the Great Lakes region."

Tina Salama, the acting spokesperson for President Felix Tshisekedi, told 蜜芽传媒 Newsday what his message was to his Rwandan counterpart.

鈥淲e only ask Paul Kagame to stop supporting the terrorist organisation M23.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if Rwanda can prove if the FDLR is still active, it鈥檚 the same music [playing]鈥� but I can tell you we don鈥檛 have any more active FDLR in eastern DRC.鈥�

(Pic: Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) soldiers take their position following renewed fighting near the border with Rwanda, in May 28, 2022 ; Credit: Reuters)

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