The Rwandan government has strongly criticized the international community’s stance on the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), accusing global actors of deliberate gaslighting and ignoring the real issues at play.
In a statement issued by Presidential spokesperson Stephanie Nyombayire, Rwanda dismissed claims that a political solution to the crisis is a newly introduced idea. She emphasized that Rwanda has been advocating for such a resolution for years, but DRC’s President Félix Tshisekedi has repeatedly rejected it.
“Unlike what the international community will have you believe, the idea that a political solution is necessary to solve the conflict in Eastern DRC is far from new. It is what Rwanda has been calling for, for YEARS. It is exactly what President Tshisekedi has openly and REPEATEDLY refused to do. And we will not join you in pretending otherwise,” Nyombayire stated.
The statement accused global actors of prioritizing geopolitical interests over human lives, arguing that international responses to the crisis continue to devalue Rwandan lives in the same way they did three decades ago.
“The message is clear: the decision made 30 years ago—that the lives of Rwandans are expendable in the face of geopolitical interests—still stands today.”
Nyombayire further claimed that DRC’s leadership benefits from its alignment with powerful foreign interests, allowing it to recruit former genocidaires and European mercenaries while enjoying diplomatic support.
“That is why the leadership of DRC is enjoying the perks of sharing the same interests as their masters: talk crazy, recruit genocidaires and European mercenaries to fight your wars, sit back, relax, and let the international community bury the real issue.”
The statement accused foreign powers of sustaining the crisis for their own gain, arguing that peacekeeping missions, aid programs, and corporate interests thrive on continued instability.
“What every resolution and statement is calling for is an immediate return to business as usual: a nation that must remain a lawless playground where leaders get their cut to go buy castles in Brussels, the international community thrives off the business of peacekeeping and poverty alleviation programs, and their companies protect their profits.”
Nyombayire asserted that the same nations supporting the DRC today would never tolerate the kind of security threats Rwanda has endured for decades. She concluded by arguing that the dominant international narrative deliberately ignores the root causes of the crisis, because acknowledging the truth would threaten economic and political interests.
“The gaslighting is deliberate because the truth is bad for business. It turns out that in this equation, the citizens of either country don’t actually matter, and in the end, their goal is NOT in fact a path to peace.”
The statement reflects Rwanda’s growing frustration with international diplomacy on the DRC crisis and signals that Kigali will continue pushing back against external pressure while insisting on a genuine political solution.
