Amid escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), China has taken the rare step of publicly calling on Rwanda to withdraw its troops and cease support for the M23 rebel group. The move signals a notable, albeit cautious, shift from Beijing’s traditional policy of non-interference in African conflicts.
In recent months, China’s UN envoy Fu Cong has twice appealed to Kigali to halt its involvement with the M23, whose actions have destabilized the mineral-rich region. Analysts suggest this unusual diplomatic move is driven by China’s growing economic interests in the DRC’s mining sector, rather than a fundamental change in its foreign policy stance.