Rwandan President Paul Kagame has defended his country’s sovereignty and right to live in peace, criticizing what he described as the continued denial of the role played by the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR) in the instability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a statement on Saturday, Kagame expressed concern over the dismissal of the FDLR’s involvement in the ongoing conflict, questioning why its role is often overlooked.
“How can some people claim that the FDLR does not exist? Or why is it something that should be trivialized? When you do that, you dismiss my history, and I will not accept it,” he stated.
The Rwandan leader also challenged the Congolese leadership to take ownership of its internal problems instead of blaming external actors.
“When will Congo take responsibility for its own challenges? Why does it insist that all its problems stem from outside forces and look for external solutions?” he posed.
Kagame maintained that Rwanda has its own priorities and cannot be held accountable for the DRC’s troubles.
“Congo is too vast for Rwanda to carry on its back. We have our own issues to deal with,” he stated. “But when it comes to the right to exist, make no mistake—I am not begging, and I will not beg anyone.”
His remarks come amid renewed clashes in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels, accused of receiving support from Rwanda, have seized key areas.
On Friday, the rebels reportedly advanced into Bukavu, the second-largest city in the region, and took control of Kavumu Airport, further undermining the authority of the Congolese government.
However, Rwanda has consistently rejected claims that it backs M23, arguing that its security concerns stem from the presence of the FDLR militia in the area.
Kagame’s statement adds to the escalating tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, which have been deteriorating for months.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has sought international assistance to resolve the crisis, accusing Rwanda of fueling the rebellion.
Despite diplomatic efforts to address the issue, Tshisekedi has decided to skip the upcoming African Union summit in Addis Ababa to focus on containing the M23’s advance. His spokesperson, Tina Salama, confirmed that Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka would represent the country at the event.
