Rwanda has sharply criticized the latest report by the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), accusing it of misrepresenting Rwanda’s legitimate security concerns while overlooking the Congolese government’s support for armed militias, including the FDLR—a group widely recognized for its genocidal legacy.
Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo issued a statement Tuesday in response to the report, noting that while the document “confirms DRC state support for the FDLR genocidal militia and the Congolese army’s reliance on the FDLR as a frontline fighting force,” it nonetheless “deliberately misrepresents Rwanda’s longstanding security concerns related to the persistent threat of the FDLR and its affiliated groups.”
Makolo defended Rwanda’s defensive posture along the DRC border, describing it as a necessary response to continuing FDLR threats.
She insisted that Rwanda remains committed to implementing the U.S.-brokered peace agreement signed last Friday, which calls for the neutralization of the FDLR.
“Following the signing of the US-brokered Peace Agreement, Rwanda is fully committed to its implementation,” she said, adding that the demobilization of the FDLR would “enable the lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures, the safe return of refugees to their home areas, and much-needed stability in our region.”
Rwanda Rejects Mineral Smuggling Allegations
Makolo also responded to renewed allegations within the UN report suggesting Rwanda is involved in the illicit trade of minerals from eastern DRC. She firmly rejected the claims, calling them false and misleading.
“Rwanda has its own 3T critical mineral reserves,” she said, referring to tin, tantalum, and tungsten. “Unlike eastern DRC whose mining sector is mostly artisanal and characterized by predatory exploitation by armed groups and corrupt DRC officials, Rwanda operates a regulated and formalized mining sector.”
She noted that Rwanda has invested significantly in infrastructure to support commercial refining and the certification of minerals, in contrast to the unregulated nature of eastern Congo’s mining industry.
According to Makolo, the recent peace agreement is not only a security pact but also a gateway to deeper regional cooperation—particularly in the mining sector.
She highlighted plans for U.S. private investment in the region to help formalize and professionalize mineral extraction and processing on both sides of the border.
“Part of the Peace Agreement just signed will ultimately present opportunities for economic cooperation,” she said. “With U.S. private investment, we can work toward improved standards and better revenue and tax collection by both governments.”
The UN report has once again stirred tension between Rwanda and the DRC, even as international partners—including the United States and regional blocs—continue to push for lasting solutions to one of Africa’s most protracted conflicts.
Rwanda’s insistence on neutralizing the FDLR remains central to its security strategy, while Congolese authorities accuse Kigali of backing M23 rebels—an allegation Rwanda has consistently denied.
The implementation of the recent peace deal is now seen as a crucial test of trust and political will on both sides.
