The fiery exchange, sparked by accusations from DRC's Minister of Human Rights, Samuel Mbemba Kabuya Tanda, highlighted continued tensions between the two nations and raised questions about the credibility of UN reporting on the ongoing conflict.
The session, presided over by Human Rights Council President Jürg Lauber, saw Amb. Bakuramutsa demand clarification on the DRC's claims, calling them a 'red line' for Rwanda.
'Did the Minister of Human Rights from the DRC government accuse my delegation and my country of being genocidal in their territory?' she asked, emphasizing that such grave allegations must adhere to international legal standards.
'There's no mechanism that has called for that, and I will not allow for that to be mentioned here in the UN premises and accept that this happens under your watch.'
Bakuramutsa's remarks followed a point of order, which she noted was ignored by the Council President, who suggested resolving the issue bilaterally with the DRC delegation. The ambassador insisted on addressing the accusation publicly, arguing that accountability must be based on 'objective, verified results' rather than selective reporting that prejudges member states like Rwanda.
The controversy stems from a recent United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report, which Rwanda has dismissed as 'sensational' and baseless.
Issued on August 11, 2025, Rwanda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation criticized the OHCHR for alleging, without evidence, that the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) aided in the killing of civilians on farms in eastern DRC between July 9 and 21, 2025.
The report also accused the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) rebel group of similar atrocities, claims the group has similarly rejected as politically motivated.
Amb. Bakuramutsa challenged the UN report's methodology, highlighting its reliance on 'remote open-source material' and lack of access to data. She pointed out a 'pre-cooked narrative' in the report, noting that M23 was mentioned 110 times, Rwanda/RDF 65 times, FARDC (DRC armed forces) 42 times, Wazalendo 43 times, FDLR only 15 times, and generic armed groups 23 times.
'This imbalance shapes a narrative and skews the reality on the ground,' she said, noting the presence of approximately 260 armed groups in eastern DRC, including private military contractors and mercenaries, which the report largely overlooks.
Rwanda has consistently denied supporting M23, asserting that its defensive measures along the DRC border aim to neutralise threats from the FDLR, a militia formed by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Bakuramutsa accused the DRC of equipping and enabling the FDLR, allowing it to 'recruit and spread genocidal ideology' despite commitments to neutralize the group through regional peace processes like the Washington Peace Agreement, African Union, Nairobi, and Luanda initiatives.
The European Union, represented by Pierre Minard, expressed alarm at the escalating violence in eastern DRC, citing the OHCHR's Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) report documenting widespread human rights violations, including potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The EU called for the prompt operationalization of a Commission of Inquiry for the DRC and urged adequate funding for the OHCHR to continue collecting evidence of abuses until the commission is active.
Bakuramutsa countered that the UN's reporting minimizes verified hate speech and identity-based attacks against Congolese Tutsi communities, particularly around Minembwe in South Kivu.
She described these as an 'early warning priority' for the Council, warning that ethnic labeling in reports risks inflaming tensions. She also criticized the UN's MONUSCO mission, noting that despite 25 years and billions spent, it has failed to protect civilians while DRC-backed FDLR forces continue to recruit and arm.
In her concluding remarks, Ambassador Bakuramutsa presented three main demands. First, she urged the Council to pause the issuance of new mandates and initiate a UN-aligned review to streamline overlapping mechanisms, ensuring resources are redirected toward effective civilian protection.
Second, she called for a single, published evidentiary standard for all reports, with concerned states given prior notice to engage before any public condemnation. Third, she rejected all recommendations directed at Rwanda in the OHCHR report, citing a lack of evidence and expressing concern over the Council's failure to address her point of order.
The ambassador emphasized Rwanda's role as a UN member state contributing to peace and stability, stating, 'We will not accept being continuously subjected to baseless accusations. Rigorous evidence is non-negotiable, and any breach of that standard will be challenged every single time.'
IGIHE
