Paris, October 30th, 2025 (CPA).- The Rwandan-backed M23 rebel movement has been accused by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo of exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the east of the country at the close of the peace forum in Paris on Thursday, which focused on the humanitarian emergency in the Great Lakes region. ‘The humanitarian situation remains dire, with millions of our compatriots trapped in the war. The DRC calls for a stronger and more sustainable collective commitment, linking the emergency to a shared responsibility among all international partners for lasting peace in the Great Lakes region and in the eastern part of the country in particular,’ said Thérèse Kayikwamba, Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Congolese foreign minister once again accused the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel movement, which is strengthening its illegal presence in the DRC, of being at the root of the humanitarian crisis in the eastern region.
‘These practices, which violate humanitarian rights, endanger civilians and even distort the meaning of aid,’ she denounced. For her, it is imperative to maintain sanctions against all those who sow terror and desolation. ‘These sanctions are necessary to create an environment conducive to action, reminding us that peace can only be built through justice and accountability, not passivity,’ insisted Thérèse Kayikwamba. « The humanitarian tragedies we are experiencing are not inevitable, but the result of human choices. Only courageous and united choices can put an end to them, » she said. Furthermore, the Congolese foreign minister called on the international community to share this demand for accountability and encouraged a clear-eyed assessment of the humanitarian crisis with the aim of reviving global solidarity in the face of the distress of millions of people displaced by various armed conflicts.
‘Millions of Congolese remain trapped in war, often in extreme survival conditions, despite the enormous work of humanitarian actors who, at the risk of their lives, bring relief and hope,’ insisted the DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, Thérèse Kayikwamba expressed the Congolese government’s determination to secure and guarantee safe and equitable access to humanitarian aid. ‘True peace is built beyond the silence of weapons, in schools, hospitals and through justice for victims,’ she argued.
She continued: ‘Without peace, no lasting progress is possible. Peace is the foundation of everything. Let this conference not be a moment of compassion, but a step towards shared responsibility for real and lasting peace.’ It should be noted that this 8th Paris Peace Forum brought together governments, civil society, businesses and international organizations to work towards global peace and sustainable prosperity. Two African heads of state, Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and his Togolese counterpart Faure Gnassingbé, were present alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. Actors from the North and South, East and West, governments, civil society, businesses and universities still have a great appetite for international cooperation. The aim of this meeting is to reinvent diplomacy in a changing world shaped by geopolitical upheavals, technological disruption and climate change.