DR Congo, Rwanda Agree to Talks to End Tensions - Blinken

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to begin talks to ease the tension over fighting in eastern Congo.

Blinken, speaking at a joint press conference with Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta in Kigali on Thursday, August 11, 2022, said the presidents of Rwanda and DR Congo, Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekedi, respectively, had agreed to open direct communications aimed at ending tensions in eastern Congo. The two leaders have accused each other of supporting rebel groups in the chronically volatile region, Voice of America reports.

In his address, Blinken warned that supporting and cooperating with armed groups would endanger local communities and threaten central Africa's stability. He urged the two countries to be respectful of each other's territory. Blinken said both Kagame and Tshisekedi welcomed the U.S.'s support and committed to begin processes toward achieving stability.

Blinken also said that he had raised human rights concerns and the detention of U.S. permanent resident Paul Rusesabagina with Kagame. Rusesabagina is credited with saving hundreds of people during Rwanda's 1994 genocide and inspired the film Hotel Rwanda. Rusesabagina was sentenced to 25 years in prison on terrorism charges in 2021. Biruta said the government has broken no laws. "Rwanda will continue to abide by our laws and the decisions made by our judiciary, and we will request our partners to respect Rwanda's sovereignty, Rwanda's laws and its institutions," he said.

Blinken's visit to Rwanda concluded a three-nation tour in which he also visited DR Congo and South Africa.