Kigali: Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe expressed dissatisfaction with what he termed as "increasingly biased US mediation" in the ongoing conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). He alleged that the United States has unfairly sanctioned Rwanda while overlooking DR Congo's failure to uphold the terms of the 2025 Washington Accords.
According to France24.com, the agreement, signed on June 27, 2025, involved commitments from both Rwanda and DR Congo, with the presence of US President Donald Trump. The accords obliged Kinshasa to enforce a ceasefire and dismantle the FDLR, a militia group that Rwanda labels as genocidal. Nduhungirehe stated that DR Congo has not fulfilled these obligations and accused its government of arming the militia. He cited incidents of civilian casualties resulting from drone strikes, including the death of French UNICEF worker Karine Buisset in March.
The Rwandan minister questioned the fairness of the sanctions, highlighting that they have been imposed solely on Rwanda. He referenced UN statistics indicating the presence of 6,000 to 7,000 Rwandan troops in DR Congo, yet he refrained from committing to a withdrawal. Nduhungirehe emphasized that the agreement requires both parties to comply, arguing that peace cannot be achieved unilaterally.
Meanwhile, DR Congo escalated the situation by filing a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice on June 26, accusing it of conducting a genocidal campaign. Nduhungirehe dismissed this legal action as a "political manoeuvre," further complicating the already strained diplomatic relations between the two nations.