The “true owner” of the resources, according to Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, not Rwanda, which he claims has plucked them away via bloodshed against the Congolese people.
As the “true owner” of the resources, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has asked the United States to buy key raw materials directly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rather than Rwanda, which he claims is stealing them via violence against the Congolese people.
“What has been hidden and maintained for 30 years has just been revealed by the Trump administration”, Tine Salama, the presidential spokesman, said on Sunday on X in response to Tshisekedi’s initial offer to the US.
She cautioned that “receiving stolen goods will become increasingly complicated”, and said that the plan is also available to European countries and other consumers that already source materials from Rwanda.
Her comments follow penalties levied by the United States against M23 spokesperson James Kabarebe and Rwanda’s State Minister for Regonal Integration for allegedly contributing to the escalation of the conflict in easter Congo.
After taking control of Goma in January, the M23, one of several armed factions active in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, made a comeback in late 2021 and took control of Bukavu this week. In the battle surrounding Goma, at least 3,000 people have been murdered, including peacekeepers, and thousands more have been displaced.
According to reports, the rebels are currently moving closer to Uvira, a city fewer than 30 kilometers from Bujumbura, the commercial center of Burundi.
Kigali has always refuted Kinshasa’s long-standing accusations that Rwanda supports the M23 and sends troops to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to aid the rebels.
