Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, made the compelling statement during the 1321st Ministerial Meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on Monday, December 29, highlighting the urgent need to neutralise the FDLR to achieve lasting peace.
The FDLR militia comprises remnants of the individuals involved in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and continues to perpetuate the genocide ideology, threatening Rwanda's security along its border.
Nduhungirehe described the "Kinshasa-backed FDLR as the most significant unaddressed security threat in the region," citing recent violence in the Walikale territory on December 15, 2025, where a village was burned. He stressed that the militia's actions continue to destabilise the region and undermine efforts for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
"The diplomatic gains of 2025 provide the most credible pathway to ending repeated cycles of violence in our region," Nduhungirehe said. "We, therefore, call on this Council to fully support their implementation."
He further underscored that Rwanda has repeatedly raised concerns over the ongoing ceasefire violations by the DRC armed coalition.
"A ceasefire, by definition, is an agreement between two warring parties to silence the guns, pending the settlement of underlying issues. Both parties are bound by it in equal measure," Nduhungirehe explained. "Therefore, a ceasefire cannot be imposed on one party to the conflict only."
Rwanda has reaffirmed its full commitment to the peace process, including the implementation of commitments made during the Washington talks between Rwanda, the DRC, and the U.S. In particular, the neutralisation of the FDLR remains a top priority, but progress continues to face setbacks linked to the Kinshasa administration's lack of good faith.
On the diplomatic front, Rwanda welcomed the unilateral withdrawal of the AFC/M23 from Uvira, viewing it as a positive gesture aimed at encouraging further negotiations. Nduhungirehe reiterated Rwanda's full engagement with the AU mediator and U.S.-supported mediation efforts, emphasising that addressing the FDLR issue is crucial for regional stability.
Rwanda's call for the neutralisation of the FDLR has been echoed in various international forums, including a recent Extraordinary Summit on the security situation in DRC held in Entebbe, Uganda, in late December. At the summit, Rwanda's Interior Minister Vincent Biruta stressed the urgency of neutralising the FDLR to ensure long-term peace in the region.
"The neutralisation of this force is important for regional security," Biruta said, while also urging all actors to honour existing commitments under the Doha and Washington frameworks. These agreements, signed in December, provide the most credible pathway to peace and stability in the region, according to Rwanda.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
