Eleven political parties operating in Rwanda have unanimously denounced sanctions against Rwanda and its leaders over allegations of involvement in the conflict in eastern DR Congo. ALSO READ: Rwandans stand in solidarity with Gen Kabarebe after US sanctions In a communiqué issued on Tuesday, February 25, the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations (NFPO) stated that the parties “denounce the unfair and unproductive call for sanctions against Rwanda and its leaders, by some countries and international organisations with neocolonial mindset, as it is not the solution to the insecurity in DR Congo, and does not address any of the issues at hand.” They maintained that such calls for sanctions rather further embolden the Congolese government in its belligerent posture against the M23 rebels and slow down African-led peace efforts. Communiqué of the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations on the security situation in Eastern DRC https://t.co/pzGwdkO17f pic.twitter.com/9xyTKpdGcT — Rwanda Political Parties Forum_NFPO (@NFPO_Rwanda) February 25, 2025 Again, they encouraged all Rwandans to preserve National Unity and strive for self-reliance. ALSO READ: Five Rwandans killed, 35 injured by bombshells from DR Congo Other resolutions of the NFPO include condemnation of publicly stated plans of President Félix Tshisekedi to destabilise Rwanda and overthrow its democratically elected government. They also noted DR Congo's collaboration with the FDLR genocidal militia, and their coalition formed by Burundian forces, Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces, European mercenaries and Wazalendo ethnic militias, in the conflict The parties condemned attacks and violations of the territorial integrity of Rwanda by the FARDC, the FDLR and other groups, which killed 16 victims and 177 casualties in Rubavu, Western Province of the country, late January. The political parties also called Tshisekedi to end all cooperation with the UN-sanctioned FDLR genocidal militia, which was founded by remnants of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and still harbours dangerous genocidal ideology. ALSO READ: Why Congolese army-FDLR alliance is an evil enterprise They encouraged the Congolese government to address the root causes of the crisis through dialogue rather than resorting to a military means. Regarding national security, they supported the defensive measures of the Government of Rwanda to protect the country's sovereignty and ensure the security of all Rwandans. ALSO READ: DR Congo crisis: Kenyatta, Obasanjo and Desalegn to mediate EAC-SADC process They also supported the outcomes of the joint East African Community and Southern African Development Community (EAC-SADC) Summit held in Dar es Salaam on February 8, 2025, as a promising path forward to lasting peace in the region. The decisions in the communiqué were made by political organisations members of forum, namely RPF-Inkotanyi, PL, UDPR, PDI, PSD, PPC, PDC, PSR, PSP, PS Imberakuri, and Democratic Green Party of Rwanda They reiterated their support for President Paul Kagame, who's also the Commander-in-Chief of the Rwanda Defence Force, for his visionary leadership and his tireless effort striving for sustainable peace in the region. ALSO READ: Addressing root causes of armed conflict in eastern DR Congo The Rwandan parties also condemned the inflammatory rhetoric by the Congolese government, especially President Félix Tshisekedi and other senior DR Congo leaders aimed at tarnishing Rwanda's image and encouraging partners to impose sanctions; and the failure of the Congolese government to resolve the longstanding issue of its Kinyarwanda-speaking Tusti communities, scapegoating Rwanda for DR Congo's internal issues instead of addressing the genuine grievances of that community.
