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.
Kenyan President William Ruto called, in a statement on Monday, January 28, 2025, an extraordinary summit of the East African Community (EAC) to which Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame were invited. Other Presidents invited include Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni.
Suddenly, hours after his public spokesperson had been saying that the invite was on the table and Congolese President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi may attend, if he finds it necessary, President Félix Tshisekedi's spokesperson, Ms. Tina Salama said that Congolese President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi has declined the invite.
"It is clear that, given the situation that prevails at the moment, the president will not be able to attend this summit," President Félix Tshisekedi's spokesperson, Ms. Tina Salama, has told media, adding that President Felix Tshisekedi has "welcomed the initiative of the EAC heads of state, but "remains committed to the ongoing the Luanda process."
Since the sudden change of stance by President Felix Tshisekedi, AfroAmerica Network has been contacting some political analysts and observers of the political dynamics in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, that includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, parts of Kenya and Tanzania.
Many of these political analysts and observers pointed to the similitude between the planed meeting between DR Congo President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi and Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame and the Arusha accords of 1994 between the late Rwandan President Habyarimana Juvenal and the then Rwandan Patriotic Front military reader Paul Kagame. Hence, they warned about the potential similar outcome.
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Worries of a Repeat of the 1994 Rwandan Human Tragedy
The analysts and sources contacted by AfroAmerica Network wondered whether President Felix Tshisekedi, like the Late Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, was called for a meeting with a potentially devilish plan behind and whether the Great Lakes Region of Africa is about to experience a humanitarian tragedy similar to what happened in Rwanda since 1994.
In fact, it is when the late Rwandan President Habyarimana Juvenal was leaving Arusha, Tanzania after signing the implementation of the Arusha Accords that he was assassinated, allegedly by RPF troops, along with the Burundi president Cyprien Ntaryamira and their closest aides. Like EAC planned meeting, the Arusha meeting was attended by Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni.
After the assassination, the RPF allegedly put into action a long planned bloody war strategy, including systematic massacres of Rwandan ethnic Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. Then, Hutu extremists, mixed with undercover RPF soldiers and agents, fell to the propaganda by RPF leaders and went on targeting and massacring ethnic Tutsis. Building on the massacres committed by Hutu extremists, mixed with undercover RPF soldiers and agents, RPF soldiers systematically massacred Hutus, especially those with education, and Tutsis related to Hutus, resulting in the one of worst inter-ethnic bloody tragedies in the African history.
The stance taken by Felix Tshisekedi to decline the participation was applauded by the Congolese people and political and military leaders as courageous and a sign of integrity and dedication to the interests of the nation. They also pointed to the key major reasons on why the EAC meeting was useless, if not a deadly trap for the DR Congo President.
In fact, several leaders within the EAC, with the exception of the Republic of Burundi, have never publicly condemned the invasion of the Democratic Republic of Congo by the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) troops, hence, showing their silent support of the invasion or lack of care for the Congolese people.
The government and military of Uganda, a member of the EAC, was cited by the latest UN report as supporting the M23 rebellion. Also in recent days, Ugandan troops have been reportedly reinforcing the Rwandan troops in the invasion of DR Congo (see here).
The performance of EAC peacekeeping forces in DR Congo was pathetic and dismaying to say the least, to the point that the Congolese people actively protested against their presence in Eastern DRC. Following the protests, the mandate of EAC peacekeeping forces was terminated.
As for Kenyan William Ruto , his country hosted the meetings that the gave birth of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) rebellion, led by the former president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), Corneille Nangaa ( see DR Congo - EU - Rwanda: European Union Imposes Sanctions Against Leaders of Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF)- AFC - M23 in DRC. and DR Congo - US - Rwanda: US Government Imposes Sanctions Against Leaders of AFC- M23 - Twirwaneho Rebels in DRC)
AFC later merged with the M23 rebels. Both are acting as the cover of Rwandan troops (RDF) reinforced by Ugandan troops (UPDF) to attack the DRC.
Rwanda Troops Getting Ready for a Repeat of the 1994 Rwandan Human Tragedy
As Congolese President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi has cancelled his EAC meeting , there are also reports coming from sources close to the Rwandan Defense Forces leaders that Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) troops deployed near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo have been getting ready to attacks and to emulate what happened in Rwanda in 1994
According to the sources, on top of those already in the DRC, the RDF troops reinforced by UPDF troops have mostly deployed in the regions in Northwestern Rwanda especially in Bugoyi, Rwerere, Kabali, Bigogwe, Mahoko, Mutura, Butaka, Bugenshi, Buringo, and Kinigi. Many of the RDF soldiers in these regions are wearing civilians clothes or hiding in civilian homes and may conduct operations against civilians and then blame the massacres to FARDC, SADEC and Rwandan armed opposition groups allegedly based in Eastern DRC.
Now, the main question is: Are DR Congo leaders, SADEC, MONUSCO, and other World actors ready for what may come next?.
AfroAmerica Network is still following the dynamics.
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