President Félix Tshisekedi’s appeal to Vladimir Putin underscores Kinshasa’s push for international backing as peace efforts in eastern DR Congo stall and regional tensions persist.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is seeking Russia’s diplomatic intervention to help resolve its prolonged conflict with neighbouring Rwanda, as President Félix Tshisekedi turns to Moscow for support in addressing insecurity in the country’s eastern region.
During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Tshisekedi called on Russia to become more actively involved in efforts to secure peace between Kinshasa and Kigali.
He specifically appealed to Russia, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, to support diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
This stems from the decades of armed conflict experienced by Eastern DR Congo involving government forces, local militias and foreign-backed armed groups. Since 2021, the M23 rebel movement has emerged as a major military challenge to the Congolese government.
Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing M23, a claim Kigali denies despite UN reports citing evidence of Rwandan military support that fuels regional tensions.
The diplomatic situation is complicated by competing security demands. Rwanda has repeatedly called on DR Congo to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group with roots in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
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