The Democratic Republic of Congo has strongly reacted to Rwanda's statements at a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the DRC. The meeting, presided over by France's representative permanent, Jérôme Bonnafont, took place on September 29. The DRC's ambassador to the UN, Zénon Mukongo Ngay, disputed Rwanda's claims of collaboration between the DRC's armed forces, the FDLR, and Wazalendo fighters.
Ambassador Mukongo Ngay emphasized that the FDLR members are Rwandans, not Congolese, and that they fled Rwanda due to intolerance. He explained that the FDLR originated from Rwandan combatants and refugees who joined the DRC's territory following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The FDLR, a Rwandan armed group, has been present in eastern DRC for decades.
The disagreement between the two nations persists in the context of the Washington agreement, signed on June 27, 2025, between the DRC and Rwanda. The agreement includes the neutralization of the FDLR and the disengagement of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory. Mukongo Ngay stated that Kinshasa is committed to the process of disarming, cantonment, and repatriation of FDLR combatants.
However, Mukongo Ngay accused Rwanda of planting obstacles in the process, citing past instances where repatriated FDLR combatants were reformed and sent back to the DRC to fight against the Congolese army. He alleged that Rwanda does not want to see FDLR combatants return home, either to rearm them or eliminate them physically.
Despite diplomatic tensions, Mukongo Ngay assured that the DRC will continue with the disarmament process, as per the Washington agreement. He also addressed the issue of protecting Rwandan populations living in the DRC, stating that it falls under the sovereignty and responsibility of Congolese institutions.
The DRC and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington, facilitated by the US, which includes the neutralization of the FDLR and the lifting of Rwanda's defensive measures. Kinshasa interprets the lifting of defensive measures as the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory. However, Kigali contests the new protocol on FDLR disarmament, demobilization, and cantonment announced by Kinshasa.
The ongoing disagreement between the DRC and Rwanda occurs amid unfulfilled commitments, including the neutralization of the FDLR by the Congolese government and the lifting of Rwanda's defensive measures. The situation remains a point of contention between the two nations, with each side maintaining its stance on the matter.
Key points
- The DRC and Rwanda have differing interpretations of the Washington agreement, particularly regarding the disarmament and repatriation of FDLR combatants.
- Kinshasa accuses Kigali of obstructing the FDLR disarmament process and rearming repatriated combatants.
- The two nations have a longstanding disagreement on the presence of FDLR in the DRC and the role of Rwandan forces in the region.
