BERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 15: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi addresses the media during a press conference with the German Chancellor at the Chancellery on November 15, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Tshisekedi, who took office in January of this year, is visiting France and Germany this week. (Photo by Michele Tantussi/Getty Images)

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Félix Tshisekedi’s impassioned plea for action on DRC’s eastern security crisis at Luanda forum

By nigerreport / July 17, 2026

During an official visit to Luanda, Angola, where he received a warm reception from his counterpart João Lourenço, Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi delivered a remarkably powerful political address.

Speaking at the 3rd edition of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) initiative, the Head of State vehemently criticized the international community’s inaction regarding the severe security crisis gripping Eastern DRC. He raised his voice against a global order that appears to be losing its moral compass.

For Félix Tshisekedi, the ongoing tragedy in Congo should no longer be viewed as a mere regional incident, but rather as a stark indicator of a collective failure of international law.

“We cannot accept the silence of convenience”

Before an assembly of global leaders, diplomats, and civil society representatives, the Congolese President eschewed polished diplomatic language, instead delivering harsh truths about the human tragedy unfolding in his nation:

“We must reject the normalization of war. We cannot be satisfied with fleeting indignation. We cannot accept the silence of convenience, nor can we count victims only to forget them later. We cannot allow international law to become a ceremonial language devoid of real impact.”

This direct appeal unequivocally targeted the major powers’ lack of concrete action against Rwandan aggression, which is covertly supporting the M23 rebellion. By emphasizing that peace must not be reduced to empty rhetoric or a “temporary cessation of arms,” the Head of State demanded that justice, truth, and respect for national sovereignty finally guide multilateral resolutions.

The eastern conflict: a stress test for the global order

Expanding on his reflections, Félix Tshisekedi cautioned the audience that ignoring the security chaos in the Great Lakes region poses a systemic threat to the entire planet:

“The struggle waged by the DRC extends far beyond its borders; it does not concern only the security of a Central African nation. It questions the very solidity of the international order we claim to defend, because wherever the law of the strongest prevails over the strength of law, no people are safe in the long term…”

Kinshasa views the situation in Eastern Congo as the ultimate test of multilateralism’s credibility. If the borders of a sovereign state can be violated with impunity, sponsored by neighboring countries without significant sanctions, then the global security of every nation is consequently weakened.

Strategic discussions behind the scenes with João Lourenço

On the sidelines of this forum, Félix Tshisekedi and João Lourenço, the African Union’s designated mediator for the security crisis in the DRC, held a private meeting. The two leaders assessed the on-ground situation and discussed the next steps for the Luanda peace process initiatives.

As the DRC assumes the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council since July 1, 2026, this impactful statement in Luanda resonates as the launchpad for a major diplomatic offensive aimed at compelling the international community to move from words to deeds.

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