Kagame’s Spokesperson Condemns Tshisekedi’s Remarks at Brussels Forum

BRUSSELS - Stéphanie Nyombayire, spokesperson for the Office of the President of Rwanda, has sharply criticized Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, accusing him of hypocrisy and irresponsibility in fueling tensions between the two countries.

Speaking on October 9, 2025, following Tshisekedi’s address at the Global Gateway Forum 2025 in Brussels, Nyombayire said she was “disappointed” that the Congolese leader used an international economic platform to attack Rwanda rather than engage constructively.

During his speech, Tshisekedi blamed Rwanda for strained relations with the DRC, while avoiding acknowledgment of his own role in the escalating crisis. In response, Nyombayire took to X (formerly Twitter), describing his comments as “shameless” and “deeply misleading.”

“Today, the President of the DRC chose to use an international conference in Brussels to prove that shame does not kill,” she wrote. “He called himself a man of peace while repeatedly threatening to invade Rwanda and overthrow its leadership.”

Nyombayire condemned Tshisekedi for supporting the FDLR, a militia composed of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and accused him of integrating its fighters into the Congolese army. She said such actions undermine his claims to be pursuing peace.

She further denounced his government’s role in ethnic violence within the DRC, alleging that Tshisekedi backs groups “that kill and burn Congolese civilians alive because of their ethnicity,” while refusing to recognize the M23 movement as Congolese.

According to Nyombayire, Tshisekedi’s actions-ranging from hiring foreign mercenaries to undermining peace agreements-reflect a pattern of behavior aimed at deflecting internal failures onto Rwanda.

“He travels across the continent asking for help but remains the one who disrupts peace processes,” she said. “He uses Rwanda as an excuse to avoid accountability, while his allies and family continue to plunder the DRC’s resources.”

Nyombayire’s remarks add to a growing diplomatic rift between Kigali and Kinshasa, which has deepened in recent weeks following the collapse of economic cooperation talks in Washington and renewed military hostilities in eastern DRC.