In a major diplomatic shift, Rwanda has publicly acknowledged that it coordinates security with the M23 rebel group active in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) — a position the country had long denied. The announcement was made by Mathilde Mukantabana, Rwanda’s ambassador to the United States, in testimony before the U.S. Congress on January 22, 2026.
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🧭 Why This Is Big News
For years, the Congolese government, civil society groups, and many international observers have accused Kigali of backing the March 23 Movement (M23) — a rebel alliance that has gained territory in eastern Congo and is widely blamed for violence and instability. Until now, Rwanda repeatedly denied these claims, saying it did not support the rebels.
KT PRESS
But Mukantabana’s remarks mark a first official admission of some form of cooperation, though she carefully framed it in a specific way: not as political support for the rebels, but as security coordination meant to prevent broader violence.
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🛡️ How Rwanda Describes the Cooperation
In her remarks, the ambassador stressed that:
The coordination is defensive and temporary, and meant to protect people — especially civilians — from armed groups like the FDLR and similar militias.
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Rwanda does not seek to influence Congo’s political system or use M23 as a political tool.
Mbote
The security cooperation includes steps like encouraging M23’s withdrawal from the strategic town of Uvira, which Kigali argues was a move toward de-escalation.
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The partnership is conditional and will be scaled back once specific security threats — especially from the FDLR — are reduced.
ChimpReports
This explanation reflects why Kigali described the arrangement as a matter of transparency and confidence-building, particularly in a context of deep mistrust between regional governments.
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🌍 What This Means Regionally
This moment is significant for several reasons:
Diplomatic Impact: It breaks with years of denials, potentially reshaping how countries like the DRC and the U.S. approach peace talks and negotiations around eastern Congo.
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Security Implications: By linking coordination with M23 to neutralizing the FDLR and other groups, Rwanda positions itself as trying to prevent cycles of violence similar to past genocidal conflicts.
Umuseke
International Reaction: The United States and other partners have been pressing for clarity and tangible steps toward peace; Rwanda’s public acknowledgment might influence how those actors engage going forward.
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🧐 What’s Still Unclear
While the statement emphasizes defensive coordination, questions remain about:
How deep the cooperation truly is on the ground, beyond diplomatic framing.
Whether this change in messaging will ease the tense relations between Kigali and Kinshasa.
How M23 itself views and responds to this diplomatic language.
This development is a rare moment of transparency from Rwanda on a conflict that has shaped Eastern Congo for years. As peace processes continue — including efforts mediated by the U.S. and other partners — all eyes will be on how countries translate diplomacy into lasting stability in the region.
