UK Foreign Secretary and Kagame spoke about the DR Congo conflict

President Paul Kagame and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met in Village Urugwiro on Saturday, February 22, to discuss the need for a long-term solution to the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that is grounded in local realities.

The Office of the President said in a statement that discussions about bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and the United Kingdom were also part of the meeting.

The statement said that President Kagame “made it clear that Rwanda is committed to a peaceful resolution, but its legitimate security interests must be recognized and respected.”

In order to find a long-term solution to the DRC issue, the President reaffirmed the significance of honoring the ongoing continental process, the statement stated.

The cooperation between the Congolese military and the FDLR, together with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi’s threats to overthrow the Rwandan government, have alarmed Rwanda.

In a video posted on Lammy’s X account, the Foreign Secretary claimed to have discussed the situation in his country’s east with Tshisekedi as well.

The M23, a rebel organization at odds with the Congolese government over the persecution and denial of rights of the Congolese Tutsi, marched on and took control of the city of Goma in January, escalating the strife in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The organization currently has authority of the city of Bukavu.

The FDLR, a UN-designated terrorist organization established by former members of the Rwandan Genocide perpetrators, is one of the militias that are part of the DR Congo government forces coalition that the M23 is battling.

With assistance from the African Union, many attempts are presently underway to address the problem. Currently, the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) are engaged in cooperative peace negotiations.

The leaders of state from the two blocs met in Dar es Salaam on February 8 and demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire by all parties and direct peace talks between the Congolese government and M23 insurgents.