In a recent interview with the media, Gen. James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that President Paul Kagame played a significant role in helping Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo build trust and strengthen relations with the international community after he came to power in 2019.
Gen. Kabarebe said that at the time, President Tshisekedi was still relatively new on the international stage. He said President Kagame, who had considerable influence in African diplomacy, helped introduce him to leaders of major countries and international organizations and supported him in building diplomatic relationships.
He said President Kagame attended the funeral of Étienne Tshisekedi, Félix Tshisekedi’s father, which was held in Kinshasa. He also played a role in introducing Tshisekedi to leaders of Western countries and international institutions, helping him build greater trust and expand the DRC’s relations with the international community.
Gen. Kabarebe also noted that, at the beginning of President Tshisekedi’s administration, relations between Rwanda and the DRC were better than they had been in previous years. He said there were numerous visits by officials from both countries, particularly those in the security and military sectors. He also noted that Rwanda’s national airline, RwandAir, began operating flights to Kinshasa, which was seen as a sign of growing cooperation between the two countries.
However, Gen. Kabarebe said the relationship changed after a relatively short period. According to him, the exact reasons why the positive atmosphere between the two countries deteriorated remain unclear. He stressed that, from Rwanda’s perspective, his country did not play a role in initiating or escalating the conflicts that subsequently characterized relations between Kigali and Kinshasa.
Gen. James Kabarebe’s remarks come at a time when relations between Rwanda and the DRC remain the subject of ongoing debate, particularly in the areas of diplomacy and regional security in the Great Lakes region. In recent years, the two sides have continued to trade accusations, blaming each other for security problems in eastern DRC, developments that have continued to attract international attention and debate.
Although Gen. Kabarebe highlighted Rwanda’s role in supporting President Tshisekedi during the early years of his administration, his remarks also reflect Rwanda’s perspective on the history of its relationship with the DRC before tensions resurfaced.
Gen. James Kabarebe made these remarks in a recent interview with the media, offering his perspective on the history of relations between President Paul Kagame and President Félix Tshisekedi.
