Omanghana
President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for diplomatic support in efforts to end the conflict in eastern DRC.
The Congolese leader made the request during bilateral talks with Putin in Moscow on Friday, October 30, 2026, following the Russia-Africa Summit.
Tshisekedi said Russia, as one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, could play an important role in efforts to restore peace in the region.
Call for Action at the UN
The DRC has repeatedly accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which has fought Congolese government forces and seized territory in the country’s east.
During the summit, Tshisekedi urged Russia to support the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions calling for an end to hostilities and the withdrawal of M23 fighters and Rwandan forces from Congolese territory.
He also asked Moscow to back the renewal of the mandate of MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC. Its current mandate is due to expire on December 20, 2026.
Continued Fighting Despite Peace Efforts
The conflict in eastern DRC has strained relations between Kinshasa and Kigali and displaced communities across the region.
UN experts have reported that Rwandan forces support M23. Rwanda has denied backing the rebels and says the DRC must address the threat posed by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR, an armed group operating in eastern Congo.
The two countries signed a United States-mediated peace agreement in December 2025, but fighting has continued.
Tshisekedi’s appeal to Putin forms part of the DRC’s broader diplomatic efforts to secure international support for a lasting settlement.
Source: Omanghana
