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Congo’s President Tshisekedi Announces Plans for Unity Government Amidst Rising Violence

The President of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has announced his plans to establish a national unity government in response to the intensifying violence in the eastern part of the country. The decision comes amid growing criticism of his handling of the situation as Rwandan-backed rebels have taken control of key cities in eastern Congo.

In his first public address since the M23 rebels, who are backed by approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops, took control of significant areas, President Tshisekedi urged members of the Sacred Union of the Nation ruling coalition to prioritize unity over internal conflicts during a meeting on Saturday.

Although he did not provide specifics on the structure or timeline, Tshisekedi declared that a national unity government will be formed, insisting that “I may have lost a battle, but not the war. I need to engage with everyone, including the opposition.”

The M23 rebels have quickly advanced and captured critical cities, resulting in around 3,000 deaths. These actions have raised concerns about their potential to advance as far as Kinshasa, the capital, over 1,000 miles away.

Rwanda has accused Congo of recruiting ethnic Hutu fighters linked to the 1994 genocide, claiming that this recruitment is the reason behind their support for the M23 rebels. The rebels argue that they are fighting to protect Tutsis and Congolese of Rwandan descent from alleged discrimination and aim to modernize Congo, though analysts suggest these statements are mere justifications for Rwanda’s involvement.

During his address on Saturday, Tshisekedi also paid tribute to fallen soldiers and vowed to strengthen the military in response to the ongoing violence.

Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/02/24/congos-leader-proposes-unity-government-amid-ongoing-violence/