Washington, D.C., March 25, 2026 — The Rwandan Embassy in the United States has strongly refuted claims made by officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a reported security incident at a Washington, D.C. hotel where Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi was staying.
Earlier accounts from Congolese sources described the situation as an attempted intrusion targeting the First Lady, with government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya stating that suspected assailants had been “neutralized” by presidential security.
The claims quickly fueled speculation in media and online platforms, with some narratives linking the incident to external actors, including Rwanda—allegations that remain unverified.
In a statement released Wednesday, however, the Rwandan Embassy dismissed those reports as “misleading” and a “gross misrepresentation” of what actually occurred.
According to the embassy, the incident involved an unarmed member of Rwanda’s VIP security detail who “inadvertently encountered” DRC security personnel in a hotel hallway accessible to all guests. Both delegations were staying at the same hotel at the time.
The Rwandan statement said the security officer was briefly restrained and prevented from accessing an elevator by DRC agents—actions it described as “inappropriate and wrong behavior in a common area.” The situation, however, was quickly contained and “resolved without further escalation,” with no injuries reported.
Following the encounter, the Rwandan delegation chose to relocate to another hotel. The embassy alleged that during their departure, members of the delegation were harassed and filmed by unidentified individuals.
“Despite this provocation, the Rwandan team was restrained and professional at all times, and carefully avoided any confrontation,” the statement said.
The embassy also took direct aim at remarks made by Congolese officials, accusing them of spreading false information. It specifically criticized statements made during a press conference by the DRC’s Minister of Information, calling them “blatant dishonesty” and urging the public to disregard what it described as “contemptible lies.”
No official response from Congolese authorities has addressed Rwanda’s latest statement at the time of publication.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, where relations have remained fragile amid longstanding political and security disputes. Despite the sharp exchange of accusations, the situation in Washington did not escalate beyond the brief confrontation, highlighting the continued importance of diplomatic restraint on international ground.
