Rwanda says DRC unmet security commitments
Kigali accuses Kinshasa of failing to neutralize the FDLR militia group as per Washington Accords.
Rwanda has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of failing to meet its security commitments under the Washington Accords, stating the continued presence of the FDLR militia remains a major concern. Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo told the BBC that the accords contain clear commitments regarding Rwanda’s security, specifically the neutralization of the DR Congo-sponsored FDLR genocidal militia, which are wholly unmet, and with no accountability.
Makolo stated that Rwanda remains prepared to implement the agreements but insisted that progress depends on reciprocal action by the DRC and accountability from the mediator. The Washington Accords were intended to address tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, including security concerns in eastern Congo where fighting involving armed groups has persisted.
At the centre of Rwanda’s concerns is the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia group linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Kigali considers the group an existential security threat and has repeatedly called for its neutralisation. The latest US sanctions add pressure to the regional peace process.