Rwanda has participated in a high-level meeting in Togo aimed at tackling the escalating insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, attended the summit, scheduled for January 17, 2026, which seeks to revive peace negotiations between the DRC government and the AFC/M23 coalition.
Preparatory talks held on Friday brought together mediators, former heads of state, Togo’s Foreign Minister, and leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf praised Qatar and the United States for supporting efforts to stabilize the region and emphasized the need for inclusive dialogue involving the DRC, Rwanda, and neighboring countries, addressing the root causes of the conflict.
The discussions are expected to also tackle the situation of Congolese refugees in Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi.
The meeting comes amid rising tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa. The DRC recently withdrew from peace talks in Doha with AFC/M23, accusing Rwanda of supporting the coalition—a claim Rwanda denies. Conversely, Rwanda accuses the DRC of cooperating with the FDLR, a terrorist group implicated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which it says continues to threaten regional security.
This summit signals renewed diplomatic engagement in the Great Lakes region as stakeholders seek lasting solutions to a conflict that has displaced thousands and destabilized eastern Congo.
