Rwandans “express deep concern” about the UK’s position on the DR Congo situation and its wider ramifications for regional peace

Rwandans in the UK have expressed their concerns about the UK’s stance on the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in a letter to David Lammy, the country’s foreign secretary.

Lammy and President Paul Kagame met in Kigali on February 22 to discuss the need for a long-term solution to the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that is grounded on local reality.

The National Association of Rwandan Communities in the UK (NARC-UK) wrote on February 24 that they had learned that Lammy had “undoubtedly chosen to side with Congo” because the majority of voters in his constituency, Tottenham, are British of Congolese descent. This was stated by Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa in a recent speech to the Congolese diaspora in Switzerland.

“If verified, this claim presents significant questions regarding the impartiality of the United Kingdom’s position on the issue and the wider consequences for peace and stability in the Great Lakes area,” the letter from NARC-UK stated.

Siding with any party based on political or personal interests rather than an objective assessment of the realities on the ground, they noted, “not only misrepresents the UK’s position but also undermines ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace.” They noted that the situation in eastern DR Congo is complex and calls for a balanced and fact-based approach.

Beginning in 2021, the Congolese government army coalition—which includes the FDLR, more than 10,000 Burundian troops, 1,600 European mercenaries, and South Africa-led SADC forces—commenced fighting the M23 rebels. As of December 2023, M23 is a member of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), a bigger rebel organization.

The Congolese armed forces (FARDC) have been heavily weakened in the fight against the rebels since January.

Burundian armed forces, South African-led SADC forces, Wazalendo ethnic militias from Congo, FDLR genocidal militias from Rwanda, hundreds of European mercenaries, and UN soldiers are all part of the FARDC coalition. Former leaders of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi established the FDLR, a terrorist organization based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It intends to return with force to Rwanda and carry out its homicidal program.

In Bukavu, the capital of the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which was overrun by the AFC/M23 last week, more than 2,100 Congolese police officers and 890 soldiers joined the uprising on February 22.

The rebel group had just five days earlier incorporated hundreds of government soldiers who had surrendered following the conquest of Goma, the capital of the North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, into its ranks. In its struggle for governance, the AFC aims to protect all citizens, uphold fundamental human rights, and deal with the underlying causes of conflict. Its authorities have pledged to eradicate the many vices of DR Congo, including nepotism, corruption, and genocide mentality.

For Lammy, NARC-UK reminded him that his duty as a high-ranking 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 noted that it has yet to receive a response to its recent request for an audience with Lammy to discuss the concerns of the Rwandan community in the UK regarding the effects of the ongoing crisis in eastern DR Congo on British citizens of Rwandan descent.

“At this time, your office has not responded to us. This lack of participation depresses us, especially considering the gravity and urgency of the current predicament. Please give us the chance to share our viewpoints and have a productive discussion on this important matter,” the letter said.

In order to maintain the UK’s position as fair, balanced, and supportive of long-term peace in the Great Lakes region, the letter also stated, “We trust that you will give these concerns the serious consideration they deserve and take the necessary steps.”