DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Wagner Rejects Plan to Dismantle FDLR

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Thérèse Wagner, has once again rejected the plan to completely dismantle the terrorist group FDLR, which includes individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and which operates within the DRC.

The decision to dismantle the FDLR was recently made by intelligence chiefs from the DRC, Rwanda, and Angola during a special meeting held in Rubavu, Rwanda.

Last week, on 14th September 2024, Rwandan and DRC diplomats met again in Angola to discuss solutions for resolving the ongoing conflict between the two countries.

The plan to dismantle the FDLR has been under discussion for some time, and reports suggest that the intelligence heads from these countries have already agreed on how to collaborate in dismantling the group.

The foreign ministers of both countries had been presented with a report on the steps to take to destroy the FDLR, but the government of President Félix Tshisekedi has already rejected it.

This is one of the reasons why no conclusions were reached during the meeting held in Luanda last Saturday. Sources from Luanda confirm that Minister Thérèse Wagner rejected the plan, despite it having been agreed upon by the intelligence heads of the three countries on 29th and 3rd August 2024.

Additionally, Minister Wagner rejected the idea of her country engaging in negotiations with the M23 rebel group.

Various reports, including those from the UN, have consistently confirmed that the FDLR closely collaborates with the Kinshasa government and provides substantial support to its regime. This is believed to be one of the reasons why Kinshasa is reluctant to destroy the group.

Other sources claim that President Félix Tshisekedi is protected by FDLR fighters due to his lack of trust in his country’s own military forces.