Diplomats and international representatives in Rwanda, this Thursaday met President Paul Kagame and the First Lady Jeannette Kagame. During a luncheon with diplomats, the head of state discussed the ongoing insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
President Kagame expressed his frustration over the international community’s response to the crisis. He pointed out that the FDLR, an armed group made up of those responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, continues to cause violence in DRC. This group is supported by certain elements in the DRC government. Yet, Rwanda is often blamed for the instability.
The president explained how the international community ignores the facts. He stressed that evidence links the FDLR to the violence, but these truths are overlooked. “Instead of facing the reality, the blame is put on Rwanda,” he said.
Kagame also addressed the selective application of international values. He noted that the world often speaks about truth and justice but fails to act on it when it comes to the DRC. “Values should apply to everyone,” he said. “The truth and evidence must guide us.”
He explained that the issues in DRC have deep historical roots. The artificial borders created during colonial times divided people. This has caused tensions. Some people in DRC even identify as Rwandans because they speak Kinyarwanda. The president pointed out that these issues were created by colonizers, not by Rwanda.
Despite this, Rwanda is often blamed for causing problems in the DRC. Kagame called for addressing the root causes of the conflict. “If we want to solve the problem, we must start at the root,” he said.
He also spoke about the failure of the UN peacekeeping forces in the region. “The UN has been in eastern DRC for 30 years, yet the problem is still there,” he said. This shows a lack of responsibility in addressing the crisis.
Kagame reminded the diplomats about Rwanda’s painful past. Just 30 years ago, the country was devastated by genocide. Many thought it would never recover. Today, those who planned and carried out the genocide are still alive. They continue to spread the ideology of genocide, especially in DRC.
The president made it clear that Rwanda will not allow history to repeat itself. He called on the international community to work together to solve the crisis in DRC. “We will not let what happened 30 years ago happen again,” he said.
President Kagame urged the world to focus on the truth and work towards real solutions. He called for lasting peace in the region through international cooperation.
