He made these remarks on August 4, 2025, while presenting the ratification bill for the peace agreement to the Rwandan Senate. The agreement was signed in Washington D.C., United States in June 2025.
The accord includes four key components: the dismantling of the FDLR rebel group, the lifting of Rwanda's defensive measures, economic cooperation between the two countries, and a political section that commits both governments to support ongoing talks between the DRC and the M23/AFC, as well as facilitation for the voluntary repatriation of refugees.
Ambassador Nduhungirehe emphasized that while Rwanda remains optimistic about the deal, there are still notable concerns, which have also been communicated to the mediators involved in the process.
First, he pointed out that it is not the first time Rwanda and the DRC have signed peace agreements that were never fully honored.
'There have been many agreements signed by the Government of the DRC over the past 25 years, more than ten, but most of them have never been implemented. Many of these agreements specifically addressed the need to dismantle the FDLR and to resolve the long-standing persecution of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese communities,' he said.
The second concern, according to Minister Nduhungirehe, relates to the inconsistency between the spirit of dialogue and the actions taking place on the ground in the DRC.
'We informed the mediators that the Congolese government is continuing to acquire weapons, including drones, and has recently hired new foreign mercenaries from Colombia to replace previous ones from Romania. FARDC [the Congolese army] has also deployed additional troops near areas controlled by the M23,' he explained.
The third concern raised was the conduct of some Congolese officials who, after signing peace commitments, begin to distort the content of the agreements in public statements.
He recalled a specific incident involving Congolese Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula during negotiations with Dr. Vincent Biruta in Luanda in 2024, where Minister Lutundula committed to providing a clear plan to dismantle the FDLR. But once he returned to the DRC, he publicly denied even knowing who the FDLR were.
He also referenced the recent shift in rhetoric by Vital Kamerhe, Speaker of the DRC National Assembly. 'On July 16, he gave a commendable speech supporting peace and called for both parliaments to endorse the agreement. Yet just days later in Geneva, he launched a harsh attack against Rwanda, making numerous unfounded accusations that completely undermined the peace message.'
Can mediators hold the DRC accountable?
Minister Nduhungirehe said all these concerns have been clearly communicated to the mediators, who have to ensure that the DRC honors its commitments. He stressed that while failure to implement the agreement would be unfortunate, Rwanda will remain vigilant.
'If the agreement is not implemented, it will be regrettable. But regarding our national security, Rwanda will continue to take precautionary measures. Our defense strategies will remain in place until the agreement is fulfilled,' he said.
He expressed hope that the broad coalition of mediators involved in the Washington agreement could influence the DRC's compliance, especially since many of them hold significant regional and global weight.
'What's new in this agreement is the number of mediators involvedâ€"more than in previous effortsâ€"including actors like the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union Commission. We believe that this expanded and more powerful group of mediators could help make a difference in ensuring this agreement is actually implemented,' he added.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-s-concerns-about-peace-agreement-with-drc
