Speaking at the UN General Assembly's 80th session in New York, he voiced concern over the DRC's renewed militarization and alliances with groups such as the FDLR and Wazalendo militias, accusing them of using attack drones and fighter jets against civilians, especially the Banyamulenge and other Congolese Tutsi communities.
'This goes against the letter and spirit of the Washington peace agreement,' he declared, referring to the comprehensive framework signed in June 2025 under the mediation of the U.S. President Donald Trump.
The agreement, encompassing security, political, and economic components, was hailed as a 'golden opportunity' to end a decades-long conflict rooted in bad governance, marginalization, and genocide ideology.
Despite promising meetings in Washington to implement the agreement, Nduhungirehe lamented that 'progress has been moving slowly.' He accused the DRC of violating international conventions, including the 1977 OAU - Organisation of African Unity and 1989 UN conventions against the use of mercenaries, by supporting a coalition backed by foreign forces.
'Rwanda condemns these developments and calls on the DRC to reject the military solution and implement in good faith the Washington peace agreement which is a golden opportunity to end this conflict that has lasted for far too long,' he urged, emphasizing that peace in Eastern DRC is in everyone's best interest.
MONUSCO's failure and the rise of genocidal militias
The minister sharply criticized the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, for failing to curb the proliferation of armed groups since its establishment in 1999.
He highlighted its collaboration with a military coalition that includes the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group subject to over 20 Security Council resolutions calling for its neutralization.
'There is an urgent need to review the legal conformity of MONUSCO's mandate,' Nduhungirehe stated, pointing to the mission's ineffectiveness in addressing the DRC-backed FDLR.
Of particular alarm was the emergence of the Wazalendo militia, armed and supported by the DRC government, which Amb. Nduhungirehe accused of committing atrocities reminiscent of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
'Their brutality, methods, and ideology bear an alarming resemblance to that of the genocidal militia of 1994, in Rwanda' he warned, citing abuses such as burning villages, lynching civilians, and arming children for ethnic cleansing. He called for 'strong action' to halt this dangerous development before it escalates further.
Genocide ideology and international complicity
Drawing on Rwanda's own history, Amb. Nduhungirehe underscored the persistence of genocide ideology in Eastern DRC, particularly targeting Congolese Tutsi and the Banyamulenge community.
'The targeting, persecution, and massacre of Congolese Tutsi, including the Banyamulenge community amounts to crimes against humanity which have all the early warning signs of a genocide,' he said, stressing that genocide follows clear stages defined by international law.
He condemned the international community and the UN for turning a blind eye to these atrocities, accusing the DRC of complicity by financing and arming groups with a 'proven genocidal record.'
'No amount of calculated cynicism can rewrite the truth and recast perpetrators as victims,' he asserted, dismissing claims of economic motives as 'corruption, bad governance, and embezzlement of public funds.'
Rwanda, having risen from the ashes of the 1994 genocide, has placed human dignity and accountability at the core of its governance.
Amb. Nduhungirehe thanked the UN for establishing April 7 as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and commended the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for prosecuting perpetrators.
However, he urged the international community to act decisively to prevent a repeat of related atrocities in the DRC.
Rwanda's broader vision for peace and development
Beyond the DRC crisis, Nduhungirehe reaffirmed Rwanda's commitment to global peace and sustainable development.
He called for UN Security Council reform, noting that Africa, with its 1.2 billion people, deserves permanent membership given its centrality to the Council's conflict agenda.
He also emphasized Rwanda's alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, advocating for a shift from aid to trade to foster self-reliance among developing nations.
'Development aid must serve as a tool for solidarity and progress, not as a weapon of coercion,' he said.
The minister highlighted Rwanda's leadership in peacekeeping, including its championing of the 2015 Kigali Principles on civilian protection and the revitalization of the African Union Peace Fund, which has mobilized over $400 million.
Rwanda's bilateral peace efforts in the Central African Republic and Mozambique have also advanced South-South cooperation and Pan-African solidarity.
In closing, Nduhungirehe reaffirmed Rwanda's readiness to work with UN member states to strengthen the organization's role in peace, justice, and sustainable development.
'While the challenges and solutions for multilateralism are clear, it is political will that must guide us today to build a UN fit for purpose,' he said, urging collective action to address human rights abuses, climate change, and global interconnectedness for future generations.
Théophile Niyitegeka
