Rwanda has firmly rejected fresh accusations from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which claimed that Kigali is actively fueling conflict in eastern DRC. The Rwandan government has labeled the claims as unfounded and a deflection from what it describes as Kinshasa’s persistent governance and security failures.
The remarks came in response to Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner’s statements during an interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle. Wagner alleged that Rwanda had violated the DRC’s sovereignty and was involved in violent acts against United Nations peacekeepers operating in the conflict-hit region under the MONUSCO mission.
Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo issued a sharp rebuttal, accusing the Congolese authorities of enabling armed groups, undermining peace processes, and failing to ensure the safety of their own citizens. She argued that violence in eastern DRC was largely driven by internal actors and that Rwandan forces were not responsible for the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
“It is Congolese armed groups such as the VDP/Wazalendo, operating in collaboration with FARDC and FDLR, that are responsible for the atrocities being committed,” Makolo stated. “The suffering in Beni, Ituri, Goma, and other regions is being inflicted by Congolese on Congolese. Rwanda should not be scapegoated for Kinshasa’s internal failures.”
Makolo also dismissed allegations that Rwanda had launched airstrikes in eastern DRC, claiming instead that the Congolese army was responsible for indiscriminate bombing campaigns, including cross-border attacks that endangered Rwandan civilians near the frontier.
She further criticized the DRC for violating several peace agreements signed in Nairobi, Luanda, and Addis Ababa. According to Rwanda, Kinshasa has continually undermined efforts toward regional stability by refusing diplomatic engagement, recruiting foreign mercenaries, and backing armed militias.
“The DRC has broken its commitments time and again,” said Makolo. “They have opted for escalation over dialogue, and their actions are actively derailing regional peace initiatives.”
Despite the worsening rhetoric between the two nations, international efforts to mediate the crisis remain ongoing. The United States has reportedly engaged both Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi in a bid to push forward a proposed peace framework aimed at ending decades of violence in eastern Congo.
Massad Boulos, a senior advisor at the U.S. State Department, confirmed that Washington had held talks with both leaders and was awaiting official feedback on a draft peace accord. The initiative reflects growing international concern that the DRC conflict could spiral into a broader regional war if left unchecked.
Tensions between the two nations have deepened over accusations that Rwanda is backing the M23 rebel group, while Kigali counters that the DRC is supporting the FDLR — a militia made up of remnants of those responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Rwanda has also cited provocative remarks from President Tshisekedi, including calls for regime change in Kigali, as further evidence of hostility and disregard for regional peace.
As regional and international stakeholders continue to push for diplomacy, both Rwanda and the DRC remain under pressure to return to the negotiating table and commit to long-term peace in the Great Lakes region.
