The Government of Rwanda has emphasized that in 2025 there were credible pathways that could have helped resolve regional conflicts, particularly in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, these conflicts persist, and Rwanda has called on the international community to fully support these efforts so they can achieve their intended goals.
This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, during the 1,321st ministerial-level meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council.
The meeting focused on the situation in eastern DRC. Minister Nduhungirehe noted that throughout 2025, diplomatic initiatives were pursued that had the potential to bring an end to the ongoing crisis in the region. He urged the Council to fully support the decisions stemming from these initiatives.
He pointed out that despite these efforts, the FDLR, supported by Kinshasa, remains a serious and unresolved security threat in the region, as illustrated by the burning of an area in Walikale Territory on December 15, 2025, and the continued insecurity in that area to this day.
Minister Nduhungirehe also reminded the Council that Rwanda has consistently raised concerns over repeated violations of ceasefire agreements by the allies of the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He stated: “I wish to recall that 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.”
He further stressed that this matter equally concerns both sides involved in the conflict in eastern DRC, adding: “Therefore, a ceasefire cannot be imposed to one party to the conflict only.”
The Minister welcomed the recent decision by the AFC/M23 coalition to withdraw from the city of Uvira, describing it as a sign of goodwill that should send a clear message to mediators that the group is ready to return to negotiations.
He concluded by stating that Rwanda continues to work closely with African Union mediation efforts and the United States of America, particularly in implementing the Washington Agreement and in efforts to dismantle the genocidal FDLR militia.
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