While unlikely to trigger a direct military conflict with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda’s desire to maintain influence in eastern Congo and alleged support of local militants there will continue to fuel diplomatic tensions and further undermine Congo’s ability to govern its war-torn, resource-rich eastern provinces. Tensions between the two African neighbors have escalated in recent weeks after Rwanda accused the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) of shelling civilians across the border in late May. In response, Congo accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group that is active in eastern Congo. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi then subsequently summoned Rwanda’s ambassador and suspended flights from Congo’s capital city of Kinshasa to the Rwandan capital of Kigali. The Rwanda Defense Force (RDF), Rwanda’s national military, also alleged that Congolese forces had captured two of its soldiers who were patrolling the countries’ shared border. While...
