(3 minute read)
· Congolese leader Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame met last Saturday (June 26, 2021) in Goma (North Kivu) and witnessed the signing of several agreements linking the economies of the two countries.
· The two countries have had tense relations since 1994 following the genocide in Rwanda.
· Discussions covered the security situation in the DRC and improving economic relations.
Congolese leader Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame met last Saturday (June 26, 2021) in Goma (North Kivu) and witnessed the signing of several agreements linking the economies of the two countries. The two countries have had tense relations since 1994 following the genocide in Rwanda. Subsequently, the two leaders held a joint press conference.
Tshisekedi was welcomed by Kagame at the integrated border post of La Corniche in Rubavu before the two leaders visited Rubavu to assess the damage caused by recent earthquakes following the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano in eastern DRC. Discussions covered the security situation in the DRC and improving economic relations.
Despite a history of persistent tensions, the relationship between Congo and Rwanda is showing signs of improvement. Both countries are making efforts to move closer. Rwanda has sent its troops into Congo on three occasions, in 1996, 1998, and 2004, citing the protection of its own security. The genocide in Rwanda, perpetrated by the Hutu-led government against Tutsis, is a defining event in history. Rwanda believes remnants of the defeated government army are still present in Congo, where some of its members fled. However, the Congolese government’s version is that Rwanda seeks to control its mineral wealth, hence the presence of its army on its territory.
The DRC is a major destination for informal exports from Rwanda. From 2012 until the Covid-19 pandemic, bilateral trade between Rwanda and the DRC showed double-digit annual growth rates.
In line with President Kagame’s vision to boost intra-African trade following the launch of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the two countries are exploring opportunities for joint investment projects and strengthening bilateral trade. The launch of a commercial flight to Ndjili International Airport in Kinshasa, DRC, by RwandAir in April 2019 gave a boost to commercial and economic ties between the two countries. During the discussions, the two leaders agreed to cooperate and resolve issues of insecurity and instability.