You know that ex who just won’t quit fabricating wild stories about you, twisting reality so hard it would snap if it were a rubber band? And so, you feel the need to defend yourself—to set the record straight. Well, that’s exactly what this article is about. Congolese's leaders are that toxic ex—who never really liked us, to begin with. And Rwandans? We’re the unfortunate ones, stuck dealing with the negativity that follows that messy breakup. See, DR Congo’s leaders have been cozying up to genocidaires, and yet, Rwanda is the one being painted as the villain in this story. Honestly, I understand why some of our neighbors might be confused. ALSO READ: Why Congolese army-FDLR alliance is an evil enterprise Here’s the thing: even when you have the ugliest split; your siblings, relatives, and friends don’t necessarily have to have a problem with your ex. In fact, some might be relieved it ended, while others, for their own reasons, will still keep in touch with them. In this case, that’s everybody else in Africa, and even beyond. Now, in every family, there’s always that cousin who always sided with your toxic ex from the get-go or who likes them for what they give and, for obvious reasons, won’t be on your side. And then there’s that opportunistic friend who would rather lose your friendship than forsake the toxic ex’s favor. And so those are the few country leaders you will see acting like they are DR Congo spokespersons and are more pained with what’s happening to its people, while really doing nothing that doesn’t benefit their own bank accounts. ALSO READ: How impunity fuels genocidal ideology in DR Congo Rwandans have no issue with other Africans. We love you. From the Horn to the East, the North, the South, and the West. Sure, sometimes emotions run high, and our Gen Z warriors take to TikTok, ready to fight for their beloved Rwanda. Just like how your mom or brother might be blinded by the suffering your ex put you through, and they might take it out on anyone who seems to sympathize with your ex. But that’s because they see through the lies. Your pain is their pain. So, no! We don’t hate the Congolese. We don’t. We love their music, their passion, their fashion, their humor. Personally, I love my salsa dance partners, many of whom choose to live here in Rwanda because they prefer peace over the chaos back home. And my disagreement—choosing not to say hate—with Tshisekedi and his government does not mean I have a problem with the people. My issue—our issue—is with DR Congo leaders. Not with the people; who are time and time again forsaken by their own leaders. So, we will never allow them to twist the narrative, to make it seem like Rwanda is against Africans. That’s, simply, not true. We love collaborating with our neighbors. We love visiting your countries (mostly visa-free, because, well, we’re family). And most of all, we love hosting you here in Rwanda. No amount of propaganda will change that. If you listen to Tshisekedi and his crew, you’d think that Rwanda is at war with the whole world. But we aren’t. We’re only against the lies and delusional accusations. The oldest trick in the book—divide and rule—is getting really tired. But I’m writing this because, unfortunately, some people still fall for it. Now, for those who genuinely want to know the truth so we can stay besties for life, here it is: Over 200 armed groups operate in eastern DR Congo, making it one of the most unstable regions on the planet. Not only has the Congolese government failed to restore security, but it actively collaborated with and empowered several of these dangerous armed groups. The most concerning for Rwanda is FDLR—a UN- and U.S.-sanctioned armed group formed by the criminals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. They fled to eastern DR Congo, formerly Zaire, where they’ve spent the last three decades promoting genocide ideology and plotting their return to Rwanda to “finish the job.” ALSO READ: Inside FDLR’s frontline base 3km from Rwanda border Since 2021, FDLR has gone from being an auxiliary force to a strategic ally of Kinshasa. Despite calls for a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict involving the AFC/M23 rebellion, the Congolese government insists on a military approach, forming alliances with an collection of militias grouped into what is called Wazalendo, FDLR, European mercenaries, and other foreign forces—including more than 10,000 Burundian troops and SAMIDRC forces from the SADC region, all backed by the UN mission, MONUSCO. ALSO READ: Forcing Tshisekedi to negotiating table is the only solution to DR Congo problems For Rwanda, this is not just a political issue—it’s a matter of national security. FDLR has spent 30 years terrorizing Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese communities while dreaming of invading Rwanda. This is an existential threat. That is why we have put strong defensive measures in place. Because, let’s be honest, if you were in our position, you’d do the same. ALSO READ: DR Congo must cut ties with FDLR, abandon plan to attack Rwanda – RPF So yes, Rwanda has fortified its borders for the past two years. Not because we want war, but because we refuse to let instability, hatred, and violence spill over into our country. We have spent three decades building peace, unity, and progress, and we won’t let anyone—not Tshisekedi, not FDLR, not any opportunistic politician—take that away from us. And we know you get it, because if you were in our shoes, you’d protect your home, too. The writer is a socio-political commentator.
