Christophe Lutundula warns Kabila: “Collusion with a foreign power is a betrayal”
Published on :
Christophe Lutundula Apala, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), gave an interview to France 24. At the end of March, figures close to former President Joseph Kabila appeared alongside the M23, a rebel group supported by Kigali. “The penal code condemns collusion with a foreign power,” recalled Christophe Lutundula, addressing Joseph Kabila as well as “any other Congolese.”
“Former head of state or not, there are the laws of the Republic,” insisted the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DR Congo on the France 24 set.
On March 28, the M23 held a meeting where three figures linked to former President Joseph Kabila appeared alongside Corneille Nangaa. However, this man is now at the head of a politico-military platform co-led by the M23 rebel group, called the Congo River Alliance (AFC).
“There are internal collusions regarding this movement that Rwanda is setting up,” worries the head of Congolese diplomacy. “Everyone knows what they are doing,” he also comments, addressing Joseph Kabila.
Christophe Lutundula calls for an end to the “impunity” of Rwanda, which the Congolese authorities hold mainly responsible for the violence reigning in the North Kivu region: “Not sanctioning” (Rwanda) amounts to “encouraging it “, and is “contrary to international law”
A meeting between Rwandan and Congolese presidents on the horizon?
The head of Congolese diplomacy, however, welcomes a French and American “tremor”: Paris and Washington “have not only denounced, but put in place sanctions”.
Christophe Lutundula Apala affirmed that a meeting with his Rwandan counterpart, Vincent Burita “must take place”, the two men having already met on March 21.
These meetings between ministers are supposed to pave the way for a meeting between the heads of state of the two countries. “The principle of a meeting between Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekedi has been accepted” affirms Christophe Lutundula Apala, without giving a date.
But the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory remains “an essential condition”, repeats Christophe Lutundula Apala: “We will never accept the infamy of negotiating under occupation.”
Source: France24
