AFC/M23 Says Kagame Not Responsible for Its Actions Amid Tshisekedi Criticism

Bertrand Bisimwa, Deputy Leader of the AFC/M23 in charge of political affairs, has strongly rejected President Félix Tshisekedi’s repeated comparisons of Rwandan President Paul Kagame to the rebel coalition.

Speaking after the EU-Africa Global Gateway Summit on October 9, 2025, Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of backing M23 fighters - allegations Kigali has consistently denied. Portraying himself as a peacemaker, Tshisekedi urged Rwandans and Congolese to live in peace, but stressed that this would depend on the cessation of hostilities by the M23, which currently controls large swaths of eastern DRC.

“This requires you to order the M23 forces, supported by your country, to stop this deadly fighting,” Tshisekedi told Kagame.

In response, President Kagame dismissed the remarks on X (formerly Twitter), using a local proverb to suggest the accusations were empty, saying:

“If someone has a problem with the noise of an empty barrel, he too has a problem! It’s better to let it pass or take it far away!”

Bisimwa clarified that Tshisekedi’s call for reconciliation concerns the governments of Rwanda and the DRC, not the AFC/M23. He emphasized that the coalition expects Tshisekedi to honor promises made directly to it:

“The reconciliation Tshisekedi requested from Kagame concerns both countries, but it does not concern us. We are waiting for him to reconcile with the AFC/M23, starting with fulfilling the promises he gave us. One should not talk about the hand when he does not fulfill anything.”

The roots of the current crisis trace back to November 2021, when M23 fighters resumed hostilities after Tshisekedi refused to integrate them into the national security apparatus despite prior agreements during 14 months of Kinshasa negotiations. Integration was meant to stabilize eastern DRC, home to over 200 armed groups.

While Tshisekedi had long labeled M23 as a terrorist group, the rebels’ capture of Goma and Bukavu in early 2025 pressured him into reluctantly agreeing to negotiations. Since March 2025, Qatar has hosted talks between the DRC government and AFC/M23, but persistent fighting in North and South Kivu has hindered progress.

Benjamin Mbonimpa, Permanent Secretary of AFC/M23, warned that Tshisekedi’s statements make it “a serious problem” to send a delegation to Doha for discussions next week. The Qatari-hosted talks are expected to focus on ceasefire measures and frameworks for a lasting peace agreement between the two sides.