On September 26, 2024, in New York, President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) addressed the United Nations General Assembly, urging the international community to impose targeted sanctions against Rwanda for its alleged support of the M23 rebel group in eastern DRC.
Tshisekedi's call follows a UN expert report from July, which implicated Rwanda in supporting M23, a group primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis. Rwanda has neither confirmed nor denied these allegations, instead accusing the DRC government of failing to resolve long-standing crises linked to the region's mineral wealth.
During his speech, Tshisekedi described Rwanda's actions as a violation of Congolese sovereignty and demanded an immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops, estimated at around 4,000, from Congolese territory. He referred to the sanctions as "sanctions ciblées" in French, which typically involve freezing assets, imposing arms embargoes, and restricting travel.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, displacing nearly 7 million people. Tshisekedi emphasized the urgent need for international action while expressing support for recent diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring peace.
Despite these initiatives, the path to peace remains uncertain, with M23's military leader rejecting disarmament unless political dialogue with Kinshasa occurs, a demand that the DRC government firmly opposes.