Brussels, Belgium – October 8, 2025: In an extraordinary departure from diplomatic convention, Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi halted his prepared remarks at the European Union’s Global Gateway Forum in Brussels to directly appeal to Rwandan President Paul Kagame to end support for the M23 rebel group. Addressing Kagame by name in a packed auditorium, Tshisekedi implored, “Give the order to the M23 troops who have been supported by your country. This violence has already killed too many people.”
Africa’s most urgent conflicts often unfold not in Addis Ababa or Luanda, but on European soil, where billions in investment commitments and geopolitical maneuvering take precedence over immediate peace efforts.
When African Solutions Falter, European Platforms Prevail
Tshisekedi’s decision to speak out at the Global Gateway Forum—an EU initiative pledging €300 billion for infrastructure and connectivity across Africa—underscored a troubling reality: African-led peace processes have repeatedly stumbled. The East African Community’s mediation stalled, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in eastern DRC was withdrawn after heavy casualties. Meanwhile, the African Union Peace and Security Council has largely refrained from decisive action amid regional divisions.
By selecting Brussels over African Union summits in Addis Ababa or Luanda Process talks in Angola, Tshisekedi signaled forum shopping for the most visible stage—and the most powerful audience—to press Kigali for tangible change.
Rebel Advances Expose Mineral and Geopolitical Stakes
Since January 2025, M23 rebels backed by the Rwandan Defence Force seized the city of Goma, displacing tens of thousands and capturing key infrastructure including Goma International Airport. In mid-February, they entered Bukavu, South Kivu’s capital, intensifying regional instability and triggering fresh humanitarian crises.
While Rwanda officially denies arming M23, United Nations experts report “critical” support from Kigali, including the provision of troops and weapons. The strategic value of eastern DRC’s mineral wealth—coltan, cobalt and gold—fuels external and regional interests. As European and American corporations vie for critical minerals, the Global Gateway’s promise of sustainable investment has drawn criticism from African scholars for perpetuating neo-colonial dynamics under the guise of partnership.
Kagame, present throughout the Brussels forum, offered no immediate response; Rwanda instead reiterated denials of direct involvement, insisting only Congolese leadership can negotiate an end to hostilities.
A Continental Crossroads
Tshisekedi framed his appeal as a moment for “history to pass judgment.” Pressed by civil society and opposition voices across X, Facebook and YouTube to demonstrate independence from foreign influence, he chose a European platform to force Kigali’s hand and galvanize international attention. Yet the reliance on non-African venues exposes enduring weaknesses in continental mechanisms for conflict resolution.
As the EU continues to position itself against Chinese and American footprints in Africa, the urgency of resolving the DRC–Rwanda conflict grows. Without robust African institutional leadership, the cycle of violence and external competition over resources will persist—regardless of where the pleas for peace are uttered.
Tshisekedi’s Brussels gambit may have captured headlines, but the question remains: will Africa reclaim its sovereignty over its own peace agenda, or continue to plead for action on foreign soil?
