Ambassador of The United States of America in the Democratic Republic of Congo has warned that there will be consequences if the peace agreements signed between Rwanda and DRC are not respected.
The U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lucy Tamlyn, made this statement to Radio France Internationale (RFI) on Monday, two weeks after the governments of Rwanda and DRC signed a peace agreement in Washington, DC, with the support of the United States.
This American diplomat said that if the parties do not implement what they agreed upon in the accord, “there are measures for sanctions that are planned.”
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has in the past repeatedly violated agreements it had signed with Rwanda.
Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn stated that her country, the USA, hopes to see the end of the conflict that has lasted for 30 years in Eastern DRC, and is ready to do everything it can.
She said, “That is why the United States emphasizes that this peace agreement includes a timeline and a structured plan for its implementation. The implementation plan is already prepared and has started. It includes the creation of a joint military body that is coordinating operations to dismantle the FDLR and remove Rwanda’s security measures.”
She added, “I also want to tell you that this agreement is very clear. We also stated publicly that there will be consequences if it is not respected: there are sanctions measures, such as economic sanctions and diplomatic ones.”
Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn also mentioned an economic aspect linked to the agreement, pointing to a $760 million hydroelectric dam project that is expected to supply electricity to three countries: DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi. She noted, “Peace is needed for this project to operate.”
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, who represented Rwanda at the signing of the agreement, recently stated that although Rwanda has hope, there are also concerns given DRC’s historical failure to implement agreements made between the two countries.
He pointed out recent evidence that raises concern, such as Congo continuing to bring in foreign mercenaries and ordering weapons from abroad, including heavy arms used in warfare.
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