Rwandans ‘express deep concern’ over UK's stance on DR Congo crisis, broader implications for region’s peace

Rwandans living in the United Kingdom have written a letter to David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, expressing concerns over the UK’s position on the crisis in eastern DR Congo. ALSO READ: DR Congo crisis: Kenyatta, Obasanjo and Desalegn to mediate EAC-SADC process This comes after President Paul Kagame on February 22, met with Lammy, in Kigali, where they discussed the need for a lasting solution to the situation in DR Congo, rooted in the reality on the ground. In the February 24 letter, the National Association of Rwandan Communities in the UK (NARC-UK), said that it had come to their attention that during a recent address to the Congolese diaspora in Switzerland, Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa publicly stated that Lammy had undoubtedly chosen to side with Congo since the majority of the voters in his constituency, Tottenham, are British of Congolese origin. ALSO READ: M23 are no terrorists, the Congolese army is – say Bukavu residents “If true, this assertion raises serious concerns about the objectivity of the UK's stance on the matter and the broader implications for peace and stability in the Great Lakes region,” NARC-UK’s letter read. ALSO READ: DR Congo crisis: Envoy reiterates Security Council’s need to take Rwanda’s concerns seriously They pointed out that the situation in eastern DR Congo is complex and requires a balanced and fact-based approach, and therefore, “siding with any party based on political or personal interests, rather than an objective assessment of the realities on the ground, not only misrepresents the UK's position but also undermines ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace.” The war between the Congolese government army coalition that includes FDLR, over 10,000 Burundian troops, 1,600 European mercenaries, and South Africa-led SADC forces, against M23 rebels started in 2021. M23 is now part of a larger rebel coalition, Alliance fleuve Congo (AFC), created in December 2023. 1/2 Open letter to @DavidLammy, the Rwandan community in the UK is deeply concerned with UK’s stance on the situation in eastern DRC, which now seems to be based on personal political interests.@Keir_Starmer @FCDOGovUK @Conservatives @UKLabour @UKinRwanda @UKinDRC pic.twitter.com/Uxbi0ApOO9 — NARC - UK (@narc_in) February 24, 2025 Since January, the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) have suffered major losses in the war against the rebels. ALSO READ: EAC, SADC leaders approve harmonised plan for FDLR neutralisation The FARDC coalition includes includes hundreds of European mercenaries, Rwandan genocidal militias known as FDLR, Congolese ethnic militias called Wazalendo, Burundian armed forces, South African-led SADC forces, as well as UN peacekeepers. FDLR is a DR Congo-based terrorist militia founded by remnants of the masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Its plan is to return to Rwanda, forcefully, and continue its genocidal agenda. More than 2,100 Congolese police officers and 890 soldiers on February 22 joined the AFC/M23 rebellion in Bukavu, the capital of DR Congo’s South Kivu Province which the rebels seized last week. ALSO READ: M23 are no terrorists, the Congolese army is – say Bukavu residents This was barely five days after the rebel group integrated into its ranks hundreds of government soldiers who surrendered after the capture of Goma, the capital of DR Congo’s North Kivu Province, in late January. The AFC is fighting for governance that supports basic human rights, secures all citizens, and addresses the root causes of conflict. Its leaders have vowed to uproot tribalism, nepotism, corruption, and genocide ideology, among other vices, widespread in DR Congo. VIDEO: Corneille Nangaa on rebellion’s plan to march to Kinshasa NARC-UK urged Lammy to consider that his responsibility as a senior government official “is to represent the UK's foreign policy interests fairly and impartially, ensuring that decisions are made in alignment with facts.” The association also pointed out that it recently requested an audience with Lammy to discuss the concerns of the Rwandan Community in the UK regarding the impact of the ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo on British Citizens of Rwandan origin, but it has not yet received a response. “To date, we have not received a response from your office. We find this lack of engagement disheartening, especially given the urgency and significance of the crisis at hand. We respectfully urge you to grant us the opportunity to present our perspectives and engage in a constructive dialogue on this critical issue,” the letter read. “We trust that you will consider these concerns with the seriousness they deserve and take necessary steps to ensure that the UK's position remains fair, balanced, and conducive to sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region,” the letter added.

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Rwandans ‘express deep concern’ over UK's stance on DR Congo crisis, broader implications for region’s peace