DRC president calls for cooperation with Rwanda to end violence in Brussels speech
Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi has called on his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to have “the courage” to work with him to make “peace among the brave” and end the violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Speaking at the Global Gateway forum in Brussels on Thursday, Tshisekedi said: “I call on those present here and the whole world (...) to launch an appeal for peace, to reach out to him and ask for this escalation to be stopped.” Kagame was also participating in the event.
“Today (...) we are the only two who can stop this escalation,” he said, referring to the violence that continues despite a peace agreement signed in Washington at the end of June.
Eastern DRC, a region rich in natural resources and bordering Rwanda, has been plagued by conflict for 30 years. The violence has intensified since January with the capture of the cities of Goma and Bukavu by the anti-government armed group M23, supported by Kigali.
"Africa needs to move on, President Paul Kagame, and we are capable of doing so"
In Brussels, Tshisekedi stressed that peace could only be realised if Kagame expressly ordered M23 troops to cease hostilities. “Africa needs to move on, President Paul Kagame, and we are capable of doing so,” he said
The Global Gateway Forum is an international conference on development, connectivity, infrastructure and partnerships, organised by the European Commission. It is being held on 9 and 10 October.
Felix Tshisekedi addresses the audience during the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, 9 October 2025 © PHOTO NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
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