Rwanda has strongly criticized the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), accusing it of direct involvement in military operations against M23 rebels and failing to contribute meaningfully to peace efforts in eastern DRC.
Speaking before the UN Security Council, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, condemned MONUSCO’s role in the escalating conflict, asserting that the UN mission had abandoned its neutrality.
“Since the resurgence of hostilities in October 2021, MONUSCO has failed to contribute constructively to the escalation or to peace efforts,” Nduhungirehe stated.
“More alarmingly, MONUSCO provided direct support to the military operation of the DRC coalition, placing itself in a situation of belligerence, even sometimes fighting alongside the same groups it was created to neutralize.”
MONUSCO, which has been in the DRC for over two decades, has long been accused of inefficiency in stabilizing the region, where multiple armed groups operate.
However, Rwanda’s latest accusations go further, alleging that the UN peacekeeping mission has directly participated in combat alongside forces that threaten regional stability.
Tensions between Rwanda and the DRC have been escalating, with Kinshasa accusing Kigali of backing M23 rebels, a charge Rwanda denies.
Instead, Rwanda has pointed to the presence of FDLR, a genocidal militia composed of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, within the Congolese army’s ranks and its alliances with other armed groups.
As the crisis in eastern DRC deepens, calls for MONUSCO’s withdrawal have intensified, with Congolese authorities themselves pushing for an accelerated exit.
However, Rwanda’s latest statement raises deeper concerns about the mission’s role in a conflict where trust in UN peacekeepers is eroding.
With Rwanda openly challenging MONUSCO’s impartiality, the question remains: Can the UN mission still be seen as a neutral actor, or has it become a party to the conflict it was meant to resolve?
