The Rwandan government has firmly dismissed what it describes as a politically motivated and biased statement from the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Charlevoix, which condemned Rwanda for allegedly supporting the M23 offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a strong rebuttal, Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, criticized the G7’s narrative, highlighting its failure to address the root causes of the conflict, including the Congolese government’s continued support for the FDLR, a genocidal militia responsible for atrocities against Rwandan civilians.
“These recycled formulas, forwarded from a western capital to another, minimize the support of the DRC government to the FDLR genocidal militia, overlook the security concerns of Rwanda, condone the deployment of European mercenaries at our border, disregard the continued persecution of the Congolese Tutsi in eastern DRC, and pay lip service to the Africa-led peace process,” Nduhungirehe stated.
The G7’s statement has drawn criticism for failing to acknowledge Rwanda’s legitimate security concerns. The presence of the FDLR in eastern DRC—composed of elements responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi—remains a direct threat to Rwandan national security. Despite repeated calls from Rwanda and regional actors for the disarmament and repatriation of this militia, Kinshasa continues to integrate them into its armed forces, exacerbating regional tensions.
Furthermore, Rwanda has raised alarms over the deployment of European mercenaries operating alongside the Congolese army near its borders. This move, which has largely been ignored by Western powers, directly threatens Rwanda’s sovereignty and regional stability.
The G7 statement also overlooked the continued persecution of Congolese Tutsi communities in eastern DRC. Reports of targeted killings, discrimination, and state-backed violence against these communities have been widely documented, yet Western countries have remained largely silent. Instead of acknowledging these grave human rights violations, the G7 has chosen to single out Rwanda without addressing Kinshasa’s complicity in ethnic persecution.
Despite the G7’s misrepresentation, Rwanda remains committed to the ongoing East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) peace processes. Unlike foreign interventions that have historically failed to resolve conflicts in Africa, these African-led initiatives offer the best path toward sustainable peace.
“Rwanda, on her part, will continue supporting the ongoing EAC-SADC peace process for a lasting solution to the conflict in eastern DRC, without taking into consideration such politically and/or economically motivated statements from overseas,” Nduhungirehe reaffirmed.
As tensions in the region persist, Rwanda continues to advocate for solutions based on dialogue, accountability, and regional cooperation. However, the selective narratives pushed by Western actors threaten to undermine peace efforts and entrench instability in the Great Lakes region. Rwanda remains steadfast in defending its national security interests while actively supporting regional peace initiatives.