Lawyer Richard Gisagara submitted the complaint to the French media regulatory authority, ARCOM, on November 15, 2025.
The community cited an article published by RFI on November 10, 2025, titled 'We will continue to resist until Kigali accepts dialogue: FDLR says' (Nous résisterons jusqu'à ce que Kigali accepte un dialogue", affirment les FDLR).
The community argues that the article misrepresents the FDLR as a lightly armed faction operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while ignoring its genocidal history and the sanctions imposed on it by the UN Security Council, the United States, and the European Union.
'The FDLR has been responsible for mass killings in Rwanda and atrocities in eastern Congo over the past 30 years,' the association said in the complaint. 'Some of its leaders have even been prosecuted in German courts. RFI's report gives this group an undeserved legitimacy by failing to provide this critical context.'
The association emphasised that RFI, as a state media outlet, is expected to uphold democratic values and provide accurate, impartial reporting. Citing French law, France Médias Monde regulations, and RFI's own code of conduct, CRF said journalists must not act as mouthpieces for armed groups.
The community also highlighted that this misreporting occurred in the context of prior intimidation of French media by the DRC government in January 2025, warning journalists that reporting contrary to government lines could lead to sanctions or even threats of death.
The Rwandan community has urged the French media regulator to review RFI's practices and ensure that the station fulfils its legal and ethical responsibilities. The organisation also reaffirmed its commitment to preserving historical truth and combating hate speech and impunity.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwandans-in-france-file-complaint-against-rfi-over-fdlr-coverage
