President Paul Kagame has rejected claims that Rwanda is failing to uphold the Washington Accords, instead arguing that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has ignored essential obligations including the neutralization of the Rwandan rebel group FDLR, while instability in eastern Congo is being further aggravated by the involvement of armed elements from Burundi.
“People cried out for help, but no one came to assist them,” Kagame said, defending Rwanda’s security posture. “I don’t believe anyone desires peace more than Rwanda. We want peace because we know what the absence of peace means; we have lived through it and understand its heavy cost including the loss of lives.”
In his national address, Kagame also criticized external commentary suggesting that Rwanda, because of its military capability, should simply absorb cross-border threats. He described such arguments as illogical, stressing that Rwanda’s capacities are modest and focused solely on national defence.
His remarks come as M23 rebels capture the strategic Congolese town of Uvira, escalating humanitarian concerns and casting doubt on the viability of the recently signed U.S.-brokered peace agreement intended to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Kagame’s address echoes his earlier comments following the Washington Accords, where he noted that signing agreements is easy, but implementing them remains the hardest part.
The current tensions across the Great Lakes region remain deeply rooted in colonial-era divisions and the enduring political legacy of the 1994 genocide, whose effects continue to shape relations among Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and eastern DRC.
