Politics

DR Congo’s President Tshisekedi accuses Rwanda of waging economic war against his country

Published

2 years ago

June 18, 2022

The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has accused neighours Rwanda of waging an economic war against his country by trying to occupy parts of the DRC, especially the eastern parts and take over the land because of its vast mineral wealth.

Tshisekedi who made the allegations on Friday in a nationwide broadcast, said the latest escalation in tensions between the two countries was started by Kigali in a bid to stoke up a war so its army could occupy the land.

He called on international leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to step up the pressure on Rwanda to stop the war it is starting when it hosts the Commonwealth summit which will begin next week.

“The security situation in the east of the country continues to deteriorate, and fundamentally because Rwanda seeks to occupy our land, rich in gold, coltan and cobalt, for their own exploitation and profit.

“This is an economic war for the battle of resources, fought by Rwanda’s terrorist gangs.

“Eastern Congolese civilians are innocents under brutal attack from our neighbor,” the Congolese president said.

In the past two months, tensions have been building up between the two countries as each side has accused the other of incursions.

Kinshasha has accused Rwanda of lending support to the M23 rebels group operating in the eastern parts of the country while Kigali which has long denied the allegations, has also accused Congo of kidnapping its soldiers and shelling civilian settlements leading to the displacement of many people.

On Friday a Rwanda Defense Force statement said an unidentified Congolese soldier had crossed the border in Rubavu district and injured two Rwandan police officers before he was shot dead in self-defence.

The statement said a Rwanda National Police officer fired in self-defense and the Congolese soldier was killed, adding that the
Congolese authorities were informed and border officials from both countries were at the scene.

Related Topics:Accusation DR Congo Featured Rwanda

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Politics

Mali’s junta names spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga new Prime Minister

Published

3 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

A day after dismissing Choguel Maiga for criticising the government, Mali’s governing junta named its spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, as Prime Minister on Thursday, according to state broadcaster, ORTM.

A source close to Choguel Maiga told Reuters that the ruling generals were incensed by Maiga’s remarks over the weekend denouncing the junta’s inability to hold elections within the 24-month timeframe given for the return to democracy.

After promising to hold elections in February, the military authorities, who took control in two separate coups in 2020 and 2021, have put off the poll indefinitely, citing technological difficulties.

Choguel Maiga’s firing coincides with indications of growing discontent and disarray among Mali politicians, even those who first supported the coup and collaborated with the junta.

As the wait for elections continues, Choguel Maiga, a civilian prime minister who was installed by the military junta in 2021, is the most recent to lose support.

He was cited on Saturday as claiming he learnt of the junta’s decision via the media and that there had been no discussion regarding the delay of the elections inside the cabinet.

“It’s all happening in total secrecy, without the prime minister’s knowledge,” Choguel Maiga told reporters.

Before then, he had frequently stood up for Mali’s junta against criticism from foreign friends and neighbours in West Africa who denounced its repeated election delays and military collaboration with Russian mercenaries.

As government spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, the new prime minister, has also made strong public remarks against France, the previous colonial master. One such speech was demanding French President Emmanuel Macron to stop his “neocolonial” and “condescending” behaviour.

Abdoulaye Maiga and Assimi Goita, the leaders of the junta, announced they had kept all of the important cabinet ministers in their portfolios in the new administration in a statement that was broadcast on state television ORTM.

The announcement said that Abdoulaye Maiga will remain minister of territory administration.

Politics

Congo opposition mobilizes protests against constitution review

Published

1 day ago

November 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In response to President Felix Tshisekedi’s intentions to amend the constitution, opposition lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have called for national protests on Wednesday.

Tshisekedi, who was sworn in for his second and last term in January, said that a panel would be formed in October to recommend possible constitutional amendments.

According to critics, it may be a ploy to lift term restrictions and give him another chance to run.

Tshisekedi said the current constitution, ratified by a referendum in 2005, needed to change because it did not align with the country’s current realities.

Opposition politicians, including former president Joseph Kabila and past presidential candidates Martin Fayulu and Moise Katumbi, issued a unified statement on Wednesday urging rallies to “block” Tshisekedi.

A request for a response from the Congo’s presidency was not answered.

Patrick Muyaya, the minister of communications, stated on Monday that discussions surrounding the constitutional revision should be de-politicized and that no one should doubt the president’s intentions.

“We’re at the beginning of our mandate… The President of the Republic still has four years to go, and we must avoid attributing intentions to him,” Muyaya told reporters.