Rwanda has condemned DR Congo efforts to undermine regional and African-led initiatives for peace by lobbying Western government against Rwanda’s development projects and fueling ethnic extremism against Congolese people. During a special sitting of the UN Security Council held on Wednesday, February 19, to discuss the security crisis in the east of DR Congo, Ernest Rwamucyo, Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the UN, called on the council to condemn actions of countries that compromise regional efforts to end the long-standing conflict in the region. ALSO READ: DR Congo crisis: Russia condemns Western silence on captured European mercenaries Rwamucyo noted that as African leaders discussed the eastern DR Congo security situation at the AU Summit in Addis Ababa on February 15 and 16, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi was at the Munich Security Conference, calling for sanctions against Rwanda. “Despite the critical nature of the recent regional discussions, DR Congo has consistently opted for a virtual presence or outright disengagement...other Head of States were in Addis Ababa trying to find solutions while the biggest beneficiary of these discussions was not present,” said Rwamucyo. Tshisekedi attended virtually the EAC-SADC summit , held on February 8, which resolved that his government directly engage in direct talks with M23, among other armed groups. The summit also demanded cessation of hostilities, implementation of an earlier approved harmonized plan for the neutralisation of the FDLR, and peaceful negotiations to be held under the new merged Luanda and Nairobi processes. The resolutions were fully endorsed by Heads of States at the African Union Summit. Since the fall of Goma on January 27 into the hand of the M23 rebels, the Congolese government has opted for the military path by reinforcing its frontlines with more troops and Burundian forces and state-sponsored incitement to violence, instead of adhering to regional charted peaceful solution, Rwamucyo said. “We have continuously stated that when a state actor proliferates and distributes weapons to armed groups, like the Wazalendo (militias), only chaos is reaped. We see it in the loss of lives caused by the Wazalendo and all the youth acquiring weapons, as well as mobilizing against each other,” Rwamucyo noted. “Arming young civilians in an already unstable context is not only reckless but an outright incitement to hatred and violence. There is a lot of misinformation here; When FARDC forces were proliferating arms to youth, including children, no outcry was heard. Now we have misinformation about the execution of children,” the Rwandan envoy said, warning that this was a recipe for disaster. FDLR neutralization, a prerequisite to peace Furthermore, he pointed out that at the heart of the current crisis lies “a dangerous alliance” between the Congolese government and external actors, mainly the FDLR genocidal militia, who have fueled ethnic rhetoric and enabled extremism to thrive for decades. While there are claims that FDLR is a weakened force, he said, the UN-sanctioned group has received financial support and integrated into Congolese armed forces (FARDC), enabling it to launch over 20 incursions into Rwanda, particularly in the Southern Province and in the northwestern region since 2018. When Goma fell, FARDC, Burundian, and FDLR forces turned their weapons on Rwanda, killing 16 innocent civilians, wounding 177 civilians, and destroying their properties in Rubavu District. “The DR Congo government must recognize that its coalition with the FDLR destabilizes Rwanda and perpetuates suffering among Congolese civilians. Ignoring the FDLR’s role is a failure to hold accountable those responsible for exporting extremist genocidal ideology beyond Rwanda’s borders,” the envoy said. Rwamucyo called out the international community’s silence over such violation of Rwanda’s sovereignty, which has left the country with no option but to strengthen its defense. Neutralizing the FDLR and ensuring the withdrawal of all foreign forces that threaten Rwanda’s security is essential for its stability and lasting regional peace, he said. “Once these conditions are met, Rwanda will adjust its defensive measures accordingly,” he said. The FDLR is embedded within the Congolese army alongside Burundian troops, SADC troops deployed under SAMIDRC, European mercenaries, and other militia groups, carrying out violence against Congolese people. This coalition is fighting the M23 rebels, who defend Congolese Tutsi communities that suffered ethnic violence for decades. ALSO READ: Ignoring M23 grievances will not bring peace to Congo – Rwanda envoy to Nordic countries Rwanda can’t be blamed for Congo’s dysfunction The envoy asserted that Rwanda would accept to be blamed for DR Congo’s economic dysfunction, referring to the accusation that Rwanda is illegally exploiting minerals in the conflict-ridden country. “Rwanda holds no mining concessions in DR Congo, yet we continue to be falsely accused. The claim that mineral resources fuel this conflict is false and insulting...it is Congolese officials who benefit most from instability and the corrupt mining sector,” Rwamucyo said. “Rwanda has always promoted responsible sourcing and formalized trade to curb smuggling and illicit activities.” He urged the Kinshasa government to engage genuinely in the EAC-SADC peace processes and called on the international community to support these Africa-led initiatives, rather than imposing counterproductive measures. “If sanctions were the solution or punitive measures to this region’s problems, Rwanda would be the first to support them. However, history has shown otherwise—they only deepen division and undermine regional peace efforts,” he said. He reaffirmed Rwanda commitment to lasting peace and development in the region.
