Kagame of Rwanda is uncertain if the peace agreement with Congo would stand

Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda, stated on Friday that he was uncertain if a peace agreement mediated by the United States would work with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and that he would react to any “tricks” his neighbor might try to pull.

The United Nations claims Rwandan forces are aiding M23 rebels who took control of the two biggest cities in the region early this year, and the deal inked last week asks for Rwandan troops to leave eastern Congo within ninety days.

Rwanda claims its troops are defending themselves against the Congolese army and ethnic Hutu militiamen connected to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, particularly those from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and denies aiding M23.

In Kigali, Kagame assured reporters that Rwanda was dedicated to carrying out the agreement, but that it would fall through if Congo failed to fulfill its commitments to neutralize the FDLR.

“If the side that we are working with plays tricks and takes us back to the problem, then we deal with the problem like we have been dealing with it,” Kagame stated.

He expressed his appreciation for the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration’s participation in the mediation process.

“If it doesn’t work, they aren’t the ones to blame,” Kagame stated.

Congo, which has frequently accused Rwanda of being the aggressor, did not immediately respond.

These were Kagame’s first public statements since June 6. From that point until June 24, he was not spotted at any events, and the president’s typically active social media channels were inactive.

His absence sparked conjecture about his health among Rwandan dissidents living abroad. David Himbara, a Canadian critic and former Kagame adviser, claimed frequently on social media that Kagame was unwell.

Kagame dismissed the reports when asked for a reaction. “Managing you people may be the source of some of my personal health issues,” he continued, eliciting laughter.

“What’s the issue? For what would people like me to answer? The president, who appeared healthy during the press conference, added, “That I am not human?”

On Thursday, M23 and the Congo’s government announced that they would return to Qatar with delegations for parallel negotiations to settle the crisis.

In an effort to persuade all parties to make peace, the Trump administration has hinted at the prospect of a separate investment agreement that may allow Western involvement in local supply chains for minerals like tantalum, gold, and copper.