Speaking on the implementation of the 2013 Peace and Security Cooperation Framework, at the UN Security Council, Kayinamura highlighted the FDLR's destabilizing role and urged the international community to take decisive action to neutralize the group and address the root causes of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Kayinamura emphasized that the FDLR, despite over 20 UN Security Council resolutions condemning its activities since 2003, remains a significant security threat.
He accused the group of continuing to recruit, train, and commit atrocities, including sexual violence, ethnic cleansing, and mass killings.
'Now FDR has graduated to being integrated into FARDC [Congolese Army]before your own eyes. This is no longer a secret but a fact based on the reports of the secretary general presented in this council,' he noted, highlighting that the coalition undermines both regional stability and the peace and cooperation framework itself.
The Rwandan envoy was unequivocal in labeling the FDLR an 'existential threat' to Rwanda and the region. He criticized any efforts to entertain or legitimize the group, warning that such actions only exacerbate the conflict.
'Entertaining or legitimizing the FDLR, even tacitly, prolongs the conflict and destabilizes the region further,' Kayinamura declared, calling for the Security Council to enforce its resolutions without selectivity and hold accountable those who support or collaborate with the FDLR and its splinter groups.
He noted that the 2013 framework, designed to end the cycle of conflict in the DRC, has not achieved its goals due to persistent challenges such as ethnic discrimination, armed group proliferation, and impunity. The FDLR's activities, he argued, are a primary driver of these issues, perpetuating violence and hindering peace efforts.
Proposing concrete steps, Kayinamura called for the disarmament and neutralization of the FDLR as a top priority. He urged the Security Council to ensure full enforcement of its resolutions and to condemn hate speech and ethnic incitement in the DRC, which he said fuels violence and division.
Additionally, he advocated for stronger support for African-led regional processes, such as those led by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which he believes offer the best chance for lasting peace.
The envoy also criticized the DRC's lack of ownership in addressing its internal challenges, accusing Kinshasa of externalizing blame and relying on militias like Wazalendo, which he said violate ceasefires without condemnation.
'Blame games have become their business,' Kayinamura remarked, emphasizing that the DRC must confront its internal contradictions to achieve sustainable peace.
Kayinamura's address reaffirmed Rwanda's commitment to the Peace and Cooperation Framework and its vision of transforming the Great Lakes region into a zone of peace and stability.
He called for genuine accountability, regional alignment, and bold political leadership from the DRC, the region, and the Security Council to eliminate the FDLR and the legacy of genocide once and for all.
'Rwanda looks forward to working with all partners to permanently get rid of armed groups,' he concluded, signaling Kigali's readiness to collaborate on regional solutions.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, with Kigali repeatedly accusing Kinshasa of supporting the FDLR, a group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
IGIHE
