Renson Mwakandana
Even though Kigali disputes the claim, the Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended all ties with Rwanda, accusing it of assisting the M23 rebels.
Following a late-night meeting on Wednesday, June 15, government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya announced various resolutions by President Félix Tshisekedi and the High Council of Defense.
“The High Council of Defense requests the Congolese government to stop any agreements reached with Rwanda,” he said, outlining the DRC’s new attitude.
President Tshisekedi and his Rwandan colleague Paul Kagame issued a business agreement in June 2021 to mine gold and assure its traceability in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The agreement allowed a Congolese business, Société aurifère du Kivu et du Maniema (Sakima SA), and a Rwandan company, Dither Ltd, to mine and process gold in the DRC “to deprive armed groups of money of this sector.”
The goal was to keep control of the value chain in Rwanda, from Sakima’s extraction through Dither’s refining.
There was also an agreement between the two adjacent nations on the avoidance of tax evasion and double taxation, as well as the promotion and protection of investments.
The Congolese government’s decision comes on top of a restriction on Rwandan national airline RwandAir landing on Congolese soil.
