When Félix Tshisekedi took office on January 24, 2019, he inherited a nation fractured by decades of conflict in its eastern provinces. As the son of long‑time opposition leader Étienne Tshisekedi, Félix faced the daunting task of unifying political factions while confronting active rebel groups. His breakthrough moment came in November 2023, when he joined Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali to finalize a ceasefire agreement for eastern Congo.
Tshisekedi’s path to that negotiating table was paved with cautious alliance‑building. Early in his presidency, he pushed anti‑corruption reforms and cultivated ties with regional bodies, earning the chairmanship of the African Union in 2021. Back home, he established a presidential council on security, bringing military, civilian and traditional leaders into one forum to address eastern Congo’s armed militias.
The resulting ceasefire does more than halt the guns: it lays out timelines for disarmament, community reintegration and joint patrols by Congolese and regional forces. Observers note that Tshisekedi’s willingness to work side‑by‑side with Kagame—despite a fraught history between Kinshasa and Kigali—marks a turning point in Great Lakes diplomacy. As displaced families return and local markets reopen, Tshisekedi frames the deal as the first step toward lasting stability in a region long defined by unrest.
