Illegal Occupation of Congolese Lands: President Tshisekedi Hails Customary Resistance

Kinshasa, March 2^nd, 2026 (CPA) – The level of customary resistance against maneuvers aimed at occupying Congolese lands by the Rwandan aggressor in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo was commended on Monday by President Félix Tshisekedi at the opening of the Forum on the role of customary authority in Kinshasa. “The lands of our ancestors are not grounds for geopolitical maneuvering but the very foundation of our sovereignty and identity. That is why I consider your presence at this forum not as mere participation, but as an act of resistance and patriotism,” declared the Congolese Head of State, after denouncing what he described as fraudulent maneuvers by the Kigali regime, “coveting Congolese lands for decades.” “We are holding this meeting in a serious security context that no one can ignore. Our country is the victim of unjust aggression carried out by a neighboring country through the M23/AFC terrorist movement, which has been guilty of illegal occupation of our territory, massive displacement of our populations, and unacceptable violence. Among the methods used by these negative forces is a particularly pernicious enterprise: the attempt to replace legitimate customary chiefs with imposed individuals, foreign to local traditions, in order to consolidate a logic of occupation,” he stated. Calling on the population to stand firm against the enemies of the Nation, President Tshisekedi reaffirmed his commitment to defending the country’s legitimacy. “As on other occasions, I repeat: no power, no armed group, no parallel administration can erase our lineages, our chiefdoms, or our community rights,” he assured. For President Tshisekedi, defending the legitimacy of customary authorities means safeguarding the continuity of the State, preserving the soul of the Nation, protecting territorial integrity, and upholding the dignity of communities. This National Forum on Customary Affairs is held under the theme: “Strengthening the Role of Customary Authority as a Guarantee of Stability, Development, Security, and Community Cohesion in the DRC.”