Dusingizemungu was reacting to a message shared by French researcher Le Drian on X (formerly Twitter) on March 20, in which he wrongly accused Rwanda of using propaganda to justify its alleged "brutal aggression" in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Le Drian claimed that Rwanda was highlighting past colonial atrocities committed by Belgium, acknowledging these as outdated horrors that were "far removed from the current reality."
In his statements, Le Drian suggested that Rwanda was using "panafricanism washing" to deflect from its actions in the DRC, a region currently facing serious security issues.
He further criticized certain Rwandan individuals for making "supremacist" remarks, which he claimed were offensive to the Congolese people.
In response, Senator Dusingizemungu criticized Le Drian's perspective, asserting that the accusations against Rwanda were based on misinformation and ignored the real and ongoing threats faced by Rwandophones, particularly Tutsis, in the DRC.
Dusingizemungu highlighted that "hate speech and serious human rights violations are targeting Rwandophone Congolese, mainly Tutsi," orchestrated by DRC authorities in collaboration with the FDLR, a terrorist group formed by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This coalition aims to destabilize Rwanda and pursue genocidal goals.
Dusingizemungu also stressed that Rwanda's defensive actions in response to this coalition are fully justified.
'Rwanda cannot be crushed. The defensive measures taken in response to this coalition of forces aiming to halt Rwanda's development are fully justified. Ignoring this reality raises serious concerns about the motivations behind such accusations,' he stated.
The DRC has placed the blame for the ongoing conflict on Rwanda, following the resurgence of the M23 rebel group, which fights for the rights of marginalized Banyamulenge and Congolese Tutsi communities.
Rwanda has consistently refuted these accusations, urging DRC to address its internal issues rather than engaging in blame games.
Rwanda has also accused DRC of collaborating with the FDLR during the conflict with the M23, with the goal of destabilizing Rwanda after the defeat of M23.
Additionally, DRC has been pushing for sanctions against Rwanda, with some countries reportedly backing this move due to their mineral interests in DRC.
Belgium, in particular, has been accused of lobbying for sanctions against Rwanda in various international institutions, leading to a breakdown in relations between the two countries. This led to severe diplomatic rift, where Rwanda expelled all Belgian diplomats within 48 hours early this week
Despite the DRC's attempts to place the blame on Rwanda, Rwanda has maintained that these allegations are part of a broader effort to divert attention from the DRC's internal issues, including poor governance.
Rwanda has also affirmed its commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity and maintaining peace in the region.
Karirima Aimable Ngarambe
