Rwandan President Paul Kagame has dismissed recent efforts to disarm the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) as “superficial”, arguing that no initiative so far has adequately addressed what Rwanda considers the root causes of the threat.
Kagame said Rwanda would remain concerned as long as the armed group continues to operate in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Speaking at a press conference in Kigali on Monday, August 24, Kagame criticised recent efforts involving the Democratic Republic of Congo and the FDLR.
Asked about a recently announced disarmament protocol, Kagame said he had not seen any initiative that genuinely addressed the underlying issues.
“It’s always superficial,” he said, without directly referring to the latest protocol.
Rwanda Demands Stronger Action Against FDLR
The FDLR was formed largely by former Rwandan government forces and militia members linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The group has operated for decades in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwanda considers the FDLR a major security threat and has repeatedly called for its neutralisation.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe has also criticised the latest protocol, describing it as a “political manoeuvre” and accusing Kinshasa of using it to delay decisive action.
He argued that dismantling the FDLR is among the commitments made by the Democratic Republic of Congo under the Washington peace agreement and maintained that the latest protocol does not sufficiently address that obligation.
Kagame Says Rwanda Will Remain Concerned
Kagame said Rwanda would continue monitoring developments because of the group’s direct security implications for his country.
“As long as the problem is not resolved, Rwanda will remain concerned,” he said.
His remarks reinforce Kigali’s long-standing position that any peace process addressing the conflict in eastern Congo must also deal with armed groups that Rwanda considers a security threat.
The FDLR issue has remained one of the most sensitive points in relations between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with both countries repeatedly accusing each other of failing to address security concerns.
Kagame Criticises International Sanctions
Kagame also criticised international sanctions imposed on Rwanda over its alleged involvement in the conflict in eastern Congo.
He argued that the measures were creating additional difficulties rather than helping to resolve the crisis.
The comments come as diplomatic efforts continue to address the wider conflict in eastern Congo, where negotiations involving Kinshasa, the AFC/M23 and regional and international mediators are seeking a lasting political settlement.
Recent peace initiatives have produced commitments on ceasefire monitoring and further negotiations, but significant disagreements remain.
Kagame’s latest remarks indicate that the FDLR issue is likely to remain a major sticking point in efforts to stabilise relations between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and secure lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.
