Rwandan diplomat claims DR Congo scuttles regional peace efforts

Rwanda has denounced DR Congo’s attempts to sabotage African-led and regional peace initiatives by inciting ethnic extremism against Congolese people and lobbying the Western administration against Rwanda’s development programs.

Ernest Rwamucyo, Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the UN, urged the UN Security Council to denounce acts by nations that jeopardize regional efforts to put an end to the region’s protracted conflict during a special meeting of the council on Wednesday, February 19, to discuss the security situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Rwamucyo pointed out that Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi was at the Munich Security Conference, advocating for sanctions against Rwanda, while African leaders debated the security situation in eastern DR Congo at the AU Summit in Addis Ababa on February 15 and 16.

“DR Congo has continuously chosen a virtual presence or outright disengagement despite the critical nature of the recent regional discussions…other Head of States were in Addis Ababa trying to find solutions while the biggest beneficiary of these discussions was not present,” Rwamucyo stated.

Tshisekedi participated virtually in the February 8 EAC-SADC summit, which decided that his government should hold direct negotiations with M23 and other armed groups.

The summit also called for the end of hostilities, the implementation of a harmonized plan for the FDLR’s neutralization that had previously been adopted, and the holding of peaceful negotiations under the new Luanda and Nairobi processes.

At the African Union Summit, heads of state gave their complete support to the resolutions.

Instead of following the regionally charted peaceful solution, the Congolese government has chosen the military route since Goma fell to the M23 rebels on January 27. This includes bolstering its frontlines with additional troops and Burundian forces and promoting violence through state-sponsored incitement, according to Rwamucyo.

“We have consistently said that chaos results when a state actor multiplies and provides weapons to armed groups, such as the Wazalendo (militias).” Rwamucyo observed, “We witness it in the death toll resulting from the Wazalendo and all the young people obtaining weapons and organizing against one another.”

It is not just careless but also blatantly inciting hatred and violence to arm young individuals in a situation that is already unstable. There is a lot of false information here; no protest was raised when FARDC personnel began distributing weapons to youngsters and other young people. The Rwandan envoy warned that this was a recipe for tragedy, saying, “Now we have misinformation about the execution of children.”

Neutralization of the FDLR, a requirement for peace

He also noted that the Congolese government and outside parties, particularly the FDLR genocidal militia, have formed “a dangerous alliance” at the core of the current problem, which has fostered ethnic rhetoric and allowed fanaticism to flourish for decades.

Although there are allegations that the FDLR is a diminished force, he stated that since 2018, the UN-sanctioned organization has been able to conduct more than 20 incursions into Rwanda, mainly in the southern province and the northwest, thanks to financial assistance and integration into the Congolese armed forces (FARDC).

Following the fall of Goma, FARDC, Burundian, and FDLR forces turned their weapons against Rwanda, destroying their properties in Rubavu District and killing 16 innocent civilians while injuring 177 others.

“The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must acknowledge that its alliance with the FDLR destabilizes Rwanda and prolongs the suffering of Congolese citizens.” “Failing to hold accountable those responsible for exporting extremist genocidal ideology beyond Rwanda’s borders is equivalent to ignoring the FDLR’s role,” the ambassador stated.

Rwamucyo criticized the lack of response from the international community on this invasion of Rwanda’s sovereignty, which has forced the nation to bolster its defenses.

According to him, Rwanda’s stability and the long-term peace in the area depend on the FDLR being neutralized and any foreign forces endangering its security being withdrawn.

“Rwanda will modify its defensive measures in accordance with these conditions,” he stated.

Along with Burundian forces, SADC troops stationed under SAMIDRC, European mercenaries, and other militia organizations, the FDLR is part of the Congolese army and uses violence against the Congolese people. The M23 rebels, who protect Tutsi towns in Congo that have endured decades of ethnic bloodshed, are the adversary of this coalition.

The dysfunction of the Congo cannot be attributed to Rwanda.

In reference to the charge that Rwanda is unlawfully mining minerals in the war-torn nation, the envoy declared that Rwanda would accept being held accountable for the economic dysfunction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“Despite not having any mining concessions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda is still being wrongly accused. The assertion that natural resources are the primary cause of this conflict is untrue and demeaning. Rwamucyo stated that Congolese politicians stand to gain the most from instability and the corrupt mining industry.

“To stop smuggling and illegal activities, Rwanda has always encouraged responsible sourcing and formalized trade.”

Instead of enforcing unhelpful sanctions, he asked the international community to support these Africa-led initiatives and urged the Kinshasa administration to participate fully in the EAC-SADC peace negotiations.

Rwanda would be the first to accept sanctions if they were the only way to address the issues facing this area. But history has demonstrated that they do nothing but exacerbate conflict and thwart regional peace initiatives,” he said.

He restated Rwanda’s dedication to regional development and enduring peace.