DR Congo and Rwanda start new war over Formula One 2030 Grand Prix
The Democratic Republic of Congo is battling it out with Rwanda again.
This time the two East African Community Member states are fighting over the recent decision by Rwanda to start hosting the FIA Formula One Grand Prix racing in Kigali, something which Kinshasa is vehemently criticizing.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner disapproved of Kigali’s plans to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Rwanda.
Formula One racing is expected to return to Africa and get staged in Rwanda from the year 2030.
Except Kinshasa is not exactly happy with the news.
In fact, DR Congo’s Foreign Minister, Wagner, argues that the motor sporting event is simply being staged in Kigali in efforts to try and ‘Whitewash’ the ‘bad’ image of Rwandan President, Paul Kagame who she described to be an authoritarian leader.
But in response, the Foreign Minister of Rwanda, Olivier Nduhungire dismissed Wagner’s accusations, advising the DRC official to look herself in the mirror.
Strongly rejecting Therese’s remarks, Nduhungire pointed out that the DR Congo minister should instead focus her attention on “the ongoing criminal investigation in Belgium.”
The Rwandese Minister claimed that there are investigations into alleged money laundering and the plundering of Katanga’s mineral resources by the DR Congo’s President, Felix Tshisekedi and his family.
Nduhungire added with a glee, that the serious allegations facing her own country’s leadership should keep the DRC Minister busy rather than “worrying about success stories developing in neighbouring countries.”
But for observers, these latest series of negative verbal exchanges between Kigali and Kinshasa highlight the latest diplomatic tensions pitting the two East Africa countries against each other amid ongoing regional disagreements.
Already DR Congo is accusing Rwanda of funding and arming the two rebel groups; Congo River Alliance (AFC) and March 23 that are jointly fighting together to overthrow the Kinshasa government of President Tshisekedi.
Last week, the former President of DR Congo, Joseph Kabila also announced to join guerilla movements and lead the fight to topple Tshisekedi.