Rwandan President Paul Kagame and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the security situation in
the Great Lakes region.
The talks focused on strengthening the Rwanda-UN partnership and finding a lasting political solution in the
DRC.
Kagame highlighted the conditions for lasting peace.
“A lasting political solution requires taking into account the security concerns of all.” were the words of Mr. Kagame who was summing up the gist of his meeting with Mr. Guterres in a message posted on his social media page.
During the meeting, which focused on the Rwanda-UN partnership, the Rwandan leader emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to resolving the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), stressing “Rwanda’s commitment to lasting peace in the region.”
Relations between Rwanda and the DRC remain tense, with Kinshasa accusing its neighbour of supporting the M23 rebel movement that has occupied the city of Goma for several days, which Kigali firmly denies.
Rwanda, for its part, accuses the DRC of sheltering on its soil the FDLR, an armed group composed in part of former Rwandan genocidaires.
The meeting is part of a series of diplomatic initiatives aimed at easing tensions in eastern DRC, where many armed groups thrive despite the presence of the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
President Kagame described the exchange with Guterres as “productive,” reaffirming his country’s commitment to a “constructive partnership” with the UN for regional stability
AC/Sf/fss/as/APA