Wellars Gasamagera, the Rwandan Patriotic Front Secretary General, called on DR Congo to end relations with the FDLR militia to achieve lasting peace. He criticized President Tshisekedi’s plans for an offensive against Rwanda, emphasizing the need for negotiations to resolve the conflict with M23 rebels. Gasamagera condemned ineffective sanctions on Rwanda and highlighted the intrinsic causes of the DR Congo crisis.
The Secretary General of Rwanda’s ruling party, Wellars Gasamagera, urged the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) to terminate its relations with the FDLR militia to foster enduring regional peace. On February 25, during a session of the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations, he emphasized that cooperation with this UN-sanctioned group hinders peace efforts, particularly following the M23 rebels’ recent capture of the crucial city of Goma.
Gasamagera expressed deep concern over President Felix Tshisekedi’s intentions to mount an offensive against Rwanda. He asserted, “Congo must abandon its plan to overthrow Rwanda’s leadership, which was democratically elected by its citizens,” further asserting that ties with the FDLR must be severed to achieve genuine peace. Resolving the M23 conflict, he stated, requires negotiations that address the underlying issues and rebels’ grievances.
During the forum, which included representatives from Rwanda’s eleven political parties, Gasamagera praised President Paul Kagame’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and the defensive measures protecting Rwanda’s borders. He called for collective support for the President in his endeavors to maintain national security.
The FDLR, comprised of elements from the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has a history of targeting Tutsi communities in DR Congo and has threatened Rwandan security with incursions over the years. Gasamagera criticized both the Congolese government and the international community for misrepresenting the crisis, attributing its root causes to internal Congolese issues and stating that the focus should not solely be on resources or sovereignty.
He remarked, “The crisis in DR Congo is rooted in historical facts, ethnic violence, and failed governance. These are internal Congolese issues that have nothing to do with Rwanda or any other external actor.” Gasamagera also dismissed international sanctions imposed on Rwanda for alleged M23 support, labeling them as ineffective and suggesting they enable DR Congo to evade accountability for its governance challenges.
In summary, Wellars Gasamagera’s statement emphasizes the necessity for DR Congo to sever ties with the FDLR and abandon aggressive intentions toward Rwanda to facilitate lasting peace. He highlights the importance of addressing the fundamental causes of the crisis through dialogue and underscores the ineffectiveness of external sanctions. This call for regional cooperation suggests that achieving stability requires collective responsibility.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
