Tshisekedi Repeats Claims That Rwanda Seeks to Annex Eastern Congo

Kinshasa, November 1, 2025 - President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi has once again accused Rwanda of seeking to annex parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), repeating claims that have repeatedly been denied by Kigali. Speaking to members of the Congolese diaspora in Egypt on Saturday, November 1, 2025, the Congolese leader alleged that Rwanda and President Paul Kagame have a “grand plan” to divide his country and seize its mineral-rich eastern provinces.

“His goal is to divide our country and occupy it, and even annex the eastern part, which has land rich in minerals and agriculture,” Tshisekedi told the audience in Cairo.

Rwanda has consistently rejected such allegations, insisting that its actions are driven solely by security concerns and not by any desire to claim Congolese territory or resources.

In a March 2025 interview, President Kagame reaffirmed that Rwanda’s primary focus is national security, not access to the DRC’s natural wealth. “If you look at the list of hundreds of companies from around the world - China, Europe, America, Canada, and others - that are interested in Congo’s minerals, Rwanda would be in 100th place, at the very end,” Kagame said in an interview with journalist Mario Nawfall.

He added that discussions about minerals are misplaced, emphasizing that “it is impossible for Rwanda, without first securing its long-term stability, to think about minerals. That would be the last thing we would think about.”

President Tshisekedi also claimed that President Kagame was responsible for the failure of the Luanda peace talks, alleging that the Rwandan leader refused to attend the signing ceremony. Kigali, however, has rejected that account.

In January 2025, President Kagame stated that he had withdrawn from the meeting due to what he described as “inappropriate behavior” from the DRC delegation. Despite this, both nations have maintained a formal peace agreement - though tensions remain high along the border.

Tshisekedi’s renewed accusations come at a delicate time, as he and President Kagame are expected to meet soon in Washington, D.C., for talks hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump. The meeting aims to promote peace and strengthen economic cooperation between Kigali and Kinshasa.

Observers warn that Tshisekedi’s latest remarks risk undermining those efforts. His continued rhetoric against Rwanda, despite recent diplomatic progress, has raised questions about his commitment to reconciliation and regional stability.