In a significant diplomatic development, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe announced on Saturday that his Congolese counterpart had refused to sign an agreed-upon deal aimed at mitigating the ongoing conflict involving the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The refusal has further complicated efforts to resolve the insurgency that has displaced over 1.7 million people in the region since the violence reignited in 2022.
The M23, a Tutsi-led militia group, has been accused of launching an insurgency in the volatile eastern provinces of the DRC, a conflict that has plunged the region into a deeper humanitarian crisis. Congo, along with the United Nations and other international bodies, has accused neighboring Rwanda of backing M23 rebels with troops, weapons, and logistics support—a claim Rwanda vehemently denies.
Rwanda Denies Supporting M23, Accuses Congo of Backing Hutu Rebels
Rwanda, which has consistently denied its involvement in the M23 insurgency, maintains that it has only taken “defensive measures” to protect its borders. Nduhungirehe emphasized that Rwanda’s defensive actions are a response to the presence of Hutu rebel groups operating within Congo, specifically the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The FDLR, which includes remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has been accused of launching attacks on Tutsis both in Rwanda and eastern Congo.
According to Rwanda, the FDLR is fighting alongside Congolese forces, exacerbating tensions between the two countries. Kigali argues that Congo’s refusal to address the FDLR’s activities or sign the agreement worsens the situation and risks prolonging the conflict.
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