Rwanda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office, Ambassador Urujeni Bakuramutsa, made the call while delivering a statement during the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the situation in eastern DRC at the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Ambassador Bakuramutsa expressed deep concern over what she described as an alarming increase in hostile actions against Rwanda originating from the DRC since late 2021.
Top among the concerns is the alliance between the Congolese Army and the FDLR, a UN-sanctioned armed group composed of elements responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The envoy maintained that the FDLR continues to operate in the Great Lakes region, spreading genocidal ideology.
"The reinforced collaboration between the Congolese Army and the FDLR poses a direct threat to regional stability and cannot be ignored," Ambassador Bakuramutsa stated, noting that the eastern DRC is home to around 200 armed groups contributing to persistent insecurity.
Rwanda also cited multiple acts of aggression from Congolese forces, including cross-border shelling, airspace violations by DRC military jets, and the disappearance of Rwandan nationals within Congolese territory.
The Rwandan envoy also pointed to what she termed an 'organised campaign of hate speech and incitement' targeting Congolese citizens of Rwandan descent.
Rwanda expressed concerns over the public call for regime change in Rwanda by President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, which Kigali described as an unprecedented and dangerous escalation.
Ambassador Bakuramutsa also noted that the M23, which the DRC accuses Rwanda of backing, is a movement composed of Congolese citizens from marginalised, Kinyarwanda-speaking communities, whose grievances stem from systemic discrimination and human rights violations, not from foreign sponsorship.
'Their grievances are rooted in structural exclusion, hate speech, and persecutionâ€"governance failures that must be addressed by the DRC government,' she said.
Reaffirming Kigali's commitment to peace, the Rwandan envoy highlighted Rwanda's active role in the African-led peace framework and parallel initiatives in Doha and Washington. She also endorsed the inclusion of humanitarian corridors within the regional peace process spearheaded by the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Rwanda appealed to the international community to support these African-led efforts politically and humanitarianly, stressing that local solutions are essential to resolving regional instability.
'Rwanda stands ready to engage in constructive dialogue, provided that the work of the fact-finding mission remains impartial and free from politicisation,' said Bakuramutsa.
'Only by addressing the structural drivers of conflict in eastern DRC can the Council begin to restore trust and relevance in a region too often failed by the international community.'
The statement comes amid efforts by Qatar and the United States to resolve the conflict, with a peace deal expected to be signed on June 15 between the DRC and Rwanda now delayed.
Rwanda participated in the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council and delivered a statement during the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the situation in Eastern DRC.
Key highlights:
1️⃣ Instability stems from the DRC government's failure to address internal governance and… pic.twitter.com/KXscdLxo3hâ€" Rwanda in Geneva (@RwandaInGeneva) June 17, 2025
Wycliffe Nyamasege
