DR Congo’s Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba, drew attention on Thursday for noticeably avoiding any mention of the Rwandan President’s name during her public briefing on the Washington Agreements.
In her remarks, Kayikwamba described the signing ceremony in the United States, where three heads of state — President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi of the DRC, U.S. President Donald Trump, and the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame — formally endorsed the documents.
While she referred to Tshisekedi and Trump by their full names, she repeatedly used only the title “the President of Rwanda” when speaking about Rwanda’s participation, never once pronouncing his name.
Observers say the omission reflects the current attitude of the Congolese government toward Kigali. According to analysts, the decision not to name the Rwandan leader was deliberate and intended to signal a lack of recognition and respect, despite the two countries appearing together at the signing ceremony.
Kayikwamba’s wording aligns with Kinshasa’s increasingly firm position: while Rwanda remains part of regional negotiations, Congo is unwilling to extend gestures of diplomatic courtesy beyond what protocol strictly requires.
The omission has become a talking point among political analysts, who note that even in official communication, the DRC is making clear distinctions about whom it acknowledges directly.
Many see the choice as a symbolic reminder of ongoing tensions between the two nations, despite international pressure pushing them toward cooperation.