Türkiye is ready to provide any support needed to resolve the dispute between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo over a new offensive launched by an armed group in the east of the DRC, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Thursday.
Erdoğan was speaking at a joint news conference with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame in the capital Ankara.
"We see today's visit as a new milestone in deepening our cooperation. Rwanda is an African country often cited as an example for its political stability and economic development model," Erdoğan said, adding that Kagame's "visionary leadership" has played a significant role in this success.
For his part, Kagame said he appreciated Türkiye's mediation efforts.
"You have played a mediating role in various conflicts, bringing Somalia and Ethiopia together. This is highly commendable," he said, adding that such an initiative has left a positive mark in the region.
"Considering our mutual experiences, we are pleased to see you as our chosen partner," Kagame said.
The Rwandan president also extended his congratulations to the government and people of the Republic of Türkiye for their resilience and strength in the aftermath of the devastating twin earthquakes.
The Rwandan-backed M23 fighters are battling the Congolese armed forces and have tightened their grip surrounding Goma, the capital of DR Congo's North Kivu province, in violence that has forced some 230,000 to flee their homes.
The U.N. said this week it was alarmed by the resumption of hostilities.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the M23 conflict risks spiraling into a broader regional war, his spokesperson said in a statement, condemning the rebels' capture of another strategic town, Sake.
"This offensive has a devastating toll on the civilian population and heightened the risk of a broader regional war," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday.
The Secretary-General "calls on all actors to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to put an end to all forms of support to armed groups," Dujarric said.
Türkiye has sought to increase its diplomatic efforts and economic development in Africa.
Last year Erdoğan brokered a deal to end tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia.
Türkiye stepped in to mediate last July, holding three previous rounds of talks – two in Ankara and one in New York – before December's breakthrough, which won praise from the African Union, Washington and Brussels.
According to the Ethiopia-Somalia Ankara Declaration, the two parties decided to launch technical negotiations facilitated by Türkiye by the end of February 2025 and conclude them within four months. They also agreed to abandon differences of opinion and contentious issues and to move decisively toward shared prosperity.
Erdoğan and Kagame oversaw the signing of four agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation between Türkiye and Rwanda during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex.
Following one-on-one and delegation-level meetings, the two leaders attended the signing ceremony, which marked a new phase in bilateral relations across various sectors.
The agreements signed included a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) and Türkiye’s national broadcaster, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), for cooperation in radio and television.
An MoU on cooperation in the investigation of civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents, an MoU between Türkiye and Rwanda in the field of media and communication and a cooperation agreement between Türkiye's Presidency of Defense Industries and Rwanda's Ministry of Defense.
The agreements are expected to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties between the two countries, fostering closer collaboration in various fields.
