Africa

SADC-EAC Joint Summit in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on 02-08-2025

On  February 8, 2025,   Congolese President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi  declined to attend  to physically attend the Joint SADC-EAC Summit in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,  on the worsening security crisis  in Eastern the Democratic Republic of the Congo, caused by Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) who have invaded the DRC under the cover of M23 rebels and reinforced by Ugandan People Defense Forces (UPDF). He, instead,  sent the Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa as his representative and participated virtually. This is a second decline to attend such meetings, that appear to be setups and masquerades by some African leaders to cover their  questionable and controversial agendas.

As the Joint SADC-EAC Summit meeting was being held,  the Rwandan government  was reinforcing  its  Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) troops in South-Kivu,  heading towards the town of Bukavu. Meanwhile, the World community, including the United Nations, European Union, the United States of America,  continue to express worries.  Independent observers, journalists,  and political analysts continue to point to these setup meetings as  prelude to a potential human tragedy similar to the one in Rwanda in 1994, following the assassination of the late Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, on his way back from a similar meeting Arusha, Tanzania.

RPF Military Commander Paul Kagame (center - left) and FAR Military Officer Sylvestre Mudacumura (right) in Arusha, Tanzania during the Arusha Accords Negotiation

On January  27, 2025, Congolese President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi  declined to attend a meeting in Nairobi, organized by  the current East-African Community  Kenyan President  William Ruto  on the worsening security crisis  in Eastern the Democratic Republic of the Congo, caused by Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) who have invaded the DRC under the cover of M23 rebels and reinforced by Ugandan People Defense Forces (UPDF). As the EAC meeting was being prepared,  the Rwandan government  was reinforcing  its troops inside and near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Meanwhile, the World community, including the United Nations, European Union, the United States of America,  has been expressing worries.  Independent observers, journalists,  and political analysts pointed to a potential human tragedy similar to the one in Rwanda in 1994, following the assassination of the late Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, on his way back from a similar meeting Arusha, Tanzania.

Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame in Gisenyi, Rwanda on June 25, 2021

  On January 18, 2025, in his public address during the ceremony of exchange of wishes, for 2025, with the members of the diplomatic corps accredited in the DR Congo,  the DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi, has reiterated his positions regarding the invasion of Eastern DRC by Rwandan troops. In his address, he called for overdues international sanctions against Rwandan leaders, and rejected any proposition of a dialogue with M23, considering the pressure as an external attempt to legitimize the invasion of Rwandan troops under the cover of M23.

The speech happened following the controversial statements  by Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame claiming that Felix Tshisekedi was never elected. Paul Kagame also appeared to mock Félix Tshisekedi one of  " african idiot leaders".  In late 2023, President Felix Tshisekedi  on a presidential campaign for his reelection, while addressing his supporters,  directed his attacks against Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame comparing him  African Hitler and  promising his supporters that, if elected,  he would declare war against Paul Kagame and invade Rwanda all way to Kigali to overthrow Paul Kagame's regime.