Africa

Felix Tshisekedi arrives in Windhoek, Namibia, on May 8, 2023

The South African Development Community (SADC) has confirmed the decision to send troops to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The troops will be sent to fight against the M23 rebels, accused of serving as the cover of the invasion of the North-Kivu province in eastern DRC by Rwandan troops. The decision was made following a summit held in Windhoek, Namibia on Monday, May 8, 2023.

Paul Kagame during the 2015 Rwandan Elections

In late March 2023, the Rwandan government, under the pressure from the Unites States Government and the Qatar Emir, released political opponents held for more than two years. Among those released is the well known Paul Rusesabagina, a receiver of US Presidential Medal.  Following the release, many dynamics have been uncovered, including the pressure from the US Government on the Rwandan leaders regarding human rights abuses and the role played by the commercial interests between the oligarchy ruling Rwanda and Qatar government. According to  unnamed sources, as the security situation in the DRC worsened and the human rights abuses in Rwanda went beyond  and become more prominent,  the US Government and the US Senate have been  mulling over economic sanctions targeting Rwandan leaders, including the ruling oligarch, General Paul Kagame and his family..

Emmanuel Macron and Paul Kagame Paris, France in December 2021

France President Emmanuel Macron has ended  his one-day official visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo that started on March 3, 2023 that ended.  During his speech in Kinshasa, DRC on March 4, 2023, In Kinshasa,  Macron warned of sanctions against supporters of M23 Rebels.  However, he fell short of  being Specific about  the Rwandan government that has been behind the invasion. He also warned the Congolese people of the incompetence of their leaders in maintaining peace, security and justice in their country.  His vague allusion to Rwanda has not been well received by the public in DRC. In fact, it has been  public that  Rwandan troops, under the cover of M23 rebels, have been responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for more than a decade.