Fact-Checking President Tshisekedi’s Address at the Global Gateway Forum 2025 in Brussels

Brussels, October 9, 2025 -During his address at the Global Gateway Forum 2025, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi delivered a speech calling for peace and regional cooperation, particularly with neighboring Rwanda and Uganda. However, a closer examination of his statements reveals several inconsistencies with facts and recent developments in the region.

Claim 1: “Since I was elected in 2019, I have visited all nine neighbouring countries, particularly Rwanda and Uganda, to propose working together for development and well-being.”

While it is true that President Tshisekedi initiated diplomatic visits to several neighboring states early in his tenure, relations with Rwanda and Uganda have since deteriorated sharply.Since 1999, more than ten peace agreements have been signed between the DRC and its neighbors but rarely implemented - largely due to Kinshasa’s preference for military solutions and persistent political mistrust.

Analysts also point to anti-Rwandan rhetoric and internal persecution of certain Congolese communities, notably Congolese Tutsi, which has intensified in recent years under Tshisekedi’s administration.

Claim 2: “At no time have I displayed any belligerent attitude towards Rwanda or Uganda.”

This statement contradicts numerous public speeches and interviews in which President Tshisekedi used hostile language toward Rwanda and its leadership.During his 2023 re-election campaign, Tshisekedi referred to Rwandan President Paul Kagame as “Hitler”, threatened to “bomb Kigali,” and vowed to “work with Rwanda’s enemies.”

Such rhetoric has also echoed in regional and international fora, where DRC officials have repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebellion and called for sanctions against Kigali.Locally, Congolese officials have often blamed domestic challenges - from corruption scandals to economic stagnation - on Rwanda, fueling anti-Rwanda sentiment and hate speech within the country.

Claim 3: “We are the only two capable of stopping this escalation.”

Observers argue that escalation largely depends on Kinshasa’s decisions, particularly regarding the FDLR militia, a Rwandan rebel group based in eastern Congo and accused of participating in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Despite regional commitments through the EAC, AU, and SADC, the DRC has continued to collaborate with FDLR units, foreign mercenaries, and local militias such as the Wazalendo, worsening instability. Rwanda maintains that peace can only be achieved through direct dialogue between the DRC government and AFC/M23, a Congolese rebel movement involved in the Doha peace process.

Claim 4: “Rwanda boycotted a near-final peace ceremony for no reason.”

Rwanda’s government publicly stated that it refused to participate in the Luanda ceremony because the DRC failed to honor prior commitments, including talks with internal rebel movements. Kigali described the event as a “photo opportunity” that did not address core security issues.

Claim 5: “M23 must stop its escalation supported by Rwanda.”

The DRC government continues to blame Rwanda for supporting the M23, a claim Kigali denies.Independent observers and regional mediators, however, note that Kinshasa’s own actions - such as the failure to demobilize the FDLR and recruitment of foreign mercenaries - have equally fueled the conflict.

Multiple cross-border incidents have been recorded since 2019, including artillery shelling in January 2025 that killed at least 16 Rwandan civilians in Rubavu District.

Claim 6: “We have been counting them in the millions for years.”

Tshisekedi’s reference to “millions” of victims has no verified statistical basis. While the humanitarian toll of the eastern Congo conflict is indeed catastrophic, experts caution against politically motivated exaggerations that distort the scope of the crisis.

Claim 7: “We remain grateful to SADC troops who fell on the field of honour.”

SADC forces, deployed in late 2024 to support the Congolese army, suffered heavy losses during clashes in North Kivu. Following the fall of Goma, surviving troops and foreign mercenaries were reportedly granted safe passage through Rwanda after withdrawal.

Claim 8: “The DRC is not belligerent and wants peace.”

Despite Tshisekedi’s final appeal for peace, his government’s ongoing military offensives, hate-driven narratives, and failure to implement regional peace accords contradict this claim.Analysts and regional mediators stress that peace will only come from sincere political will - notably, through dismantling the FDLR, ceasing anti-Rwanda provocations, and re-engaging in Doha and Luanda peace mechanisms in good faith.

President Tshisekedi’s speech in Brussels projected an image of a leader committed to peace and dialogue. However, a detailed fact-check reveals a pattern of contradictions between his public statements and the DRC’s actions on the ground. While the DRC continues to frame itself as a victim of external aggression, evidence points to internal political choices, military miscalculations, and regional defiance as major obstacles to peace in the Great Lakes region.