Scapegoating Cannot End DR Congo Crisis, Rwandan Envoy Tells UN

Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Urujeni Bakuramutsa, told the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday that achieving lasting peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) requires accountability and the implementation of existing peace agreements rather than the shifting of responsibility onto Rwanda.

Speaking during the 63rd regular session of the Human Rights Council, which began on September 7, Ambassador Bakuramutsa stated that sustainable peace depends on addressing the root causes of conflict, such as poverty, social exclusion, and weak institutions. She argued that the DRC government is attempting to politicize the council to deflect attention from its own actions and the suffering of its citizens.

A central point of the ambassador’s address was the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia group operating in eastern DRC. Bakuramutsa alleged that the Kinshasa government provides support to the FDLR and the Wazalendo militias. She stated that the FDLR, which includes individuals linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, continues to threaten security in the region and target Kinyarwanda-speaking communities.

The ambassador noted that the December 2025 Washington Accords, signed by Rwanda and the DRC, mandate the neutralization of the FDLR. She claimed that the implementation of these commitments has been limited and that the Congolese government has prioritized military solutions over diplomatic ones. Furthermore, she accused the DRC of utilizing foreign mercenaries, which she described as a violation of African Union and UN conventions.

Bakuramutsa also called on the DRC to address what she described as state-amplified hate speech and incitement to violence directed at Congolese Tutsi communities, including the Banyamulenge. She urged the government to hold those responsible for such rhetoric accountable.

In her remarks, the ambassador emphasized that Rwanda remains committed to constructive engagement with international partners to resolve the crisis. She concluded that the conflict in eastern DRC cannot be reduced to allegations against Rwanda and must instead be addressed through genuine cooperation and the fulfillment of established security obligations.

Article source: allafrica.com | Image credit: The New Times