Kigali has rejected the U.S. sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force and four commanders as unjust and one-sided. Rwanda defends its military actions as a necessary response to threats from eastern DRC.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Kigali said the U.S. action “misrepresents the reality and distorts the facts” surrounding the conflict.
Kigali accused the Congolese government of repeatedly violating ceasefire agreements through drone strikes and ground offensives.
“Consistent and indiscriminate drone attacks and ground offensives constitute clear violations of ceasefire agreements by the DRC and continue to cost many lives,” the statement said.
Rwanda insisted that its primary objective is national security, arguing that the RDF’s actions are defensive and aimed at countering hostile armed groups operating near its borders.
Rwanda further alleged that the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) is collaborating with armed factions hostile to Kigali, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
The FDLR, composed in part of remnants linked to perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, is regarded by Kigali as an ongoing security threat.
Rwanda claims that under the Washington Accords peace framework, the DRC committed to an “irreversible and verifiable” end to support for the FDLR and associated militias — a commitment Kigali says has not been fulfilled.
Key Points from Rwanda’s Statement
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Sanctions misrepresent the conflict by targeting only Rwanda, ignoring DRC’s ceasefire violations like drone attacks and offensives.
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RDF’s posture is defensive against FDLR militias backed by Kinshasa, which pose a direct security threat; protecting Rwanda is a “badge of honour.”
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Rwanda commits to troop disengagement alongside DRC fulfilling obligations under Washington Accords, including ending support for FDLR.
