In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation described the claims as 'sensational, baseless, and lacking evidence,' pointing out that even HRW acknowledged it had not independently verified the alleged killings of Hutu civilians said to have occurred over nearly two weeks in July.
'These salacious claims, which raise more questions than answers, are not the result of any credible investigation,' the Rwandan government said. 'Rather, they have been hastily released through media leaks in an attempt to entrench a pre-determined narrative. Only an independent investigation will shed light on these allegations.'
Rwanda accused HRW of a 'long history of implausible claims' against the country, often timed to coincide with critical political moments. The government noted that the latest report comes as parties to the conflict in eastern DRC prepare to resume negotiations and as the June 27 Washington DC Peace Agreement â€" which includes the neutralisation of the DRC-backed FDLR militia â€" is being implemented. Kigali reiterated its commitment to regional peace efforts, including the Doha process.
The Allied Forces Coalition/M23 (AFC/M23) rebel group also dismissed the HRW report recently, calling it 'fake, politically motivated, and an instrument of propaganda.'
In a statement released on Wednesday, the group's spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, criticised HRW's methodology, saying it relied on 'unverified telephone testimonies and satellite imagery without on-the-ground verification.'
'The Human Rights Watch report of August 20th, 2025, is fake and a falsification of reality. Its methodology is fraudulent, its sources are corrupt, and its context is truncated,' the statement read.
AFC/M23 further accused HRW of ignoring atrocities allegedly committed by other armed groups allied with the Kinshasa government, including the FDLR, Nyatura, PARECO, and Wazalendo. The rebels maintain that the report is intended to cover up 'military failures and crimes against humanity' by government forces.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-dismisses-unverified-hrw-claims-on-binza-killings
