The condemnation follows a statement released on January 16, 2025, by the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs, which stated, "issues caused by M23 and FDLR should be urgently addressed."
Minister Nduhungirehe stressed that equating threats arising from M23 and FDLR is "inappropriate" and that the U.S. should not compare a genocidal group to M23, which fights for civilians targeted by genocidal forces.
"This narrative of equating the 'threats of M23 and FDLR' is inappropriate. It's even offensive for the outgoing U.S. administration to compare a genocidal force with a movement that defends a community threatened and persecuted by the same genocidal force," he wrote on X.
In October 2023, the FDLR and groups from the Wazalendo coalition, in collaboration with the DRC army, fought against M23, burning down homes of Congolese Tutsis in Nturo village, located in the Masisi territory, which were completely destroyed.
Minister Nduhungirehe explained that when FDLR and these groups carried out this attack, both the DRC and Burundian forces were present, and pointed out that the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs did not comment on the incident.
"I recall that when 300 homes of Congolese Tutsis were burned down in October 2023 in Nturo village, Masisi territory, by the FDLR, the Wazalendo, and the Nyatura militias, in the presence of FARDC and Burundian forces, a statement or a tweet from the Bureau of African Affairs was nowhere to be seen," he added.
He stressed that the U.S. and the international community should stop making statements that deliberately ignore the root causes of the security issues in Eastern DRC.
"It is time for the U.S. and the international community to stop recycling these formulas and focus on the root causes of the crisis in Eastern DRC," he said.
M23 has been active since 2012 when it launched an armed struggle demanding that the DRC government honour the agreements made with the former CNDP (National Congress for the Defense of the People). These agreements were meant to restore the rights of Congolese, particularly Tutsis, and end the violence they were subjected to.
From 2012 to 2013, M23 captured large areas in North Kivu province, including the city of Goma. However, these gains were reversed following a decision by the regional heads of state, who promised that the DRC government would address the issues faced by the Congolese in the east.
The promise made to M23 was never fulfilled, as the DRC government failed to honour it. After eight years of waiting, former M23 fighters were attacked by DRC forces in November 2021, sparking renewed fighting.
M23 clarifies that it does not kill civilians or commit any form of abuse. Instead, it ensures their safety, which contrasts sharply with the DRC government's forces, who are supposed to protect civilians but end up killing them. M23 continues to call on the government to respect the terms of the agreements.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/politics-48/article/nduhungirehe-condemns-u-s-for-comparing-m23-to-fdlr
