Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe has called on the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) to honor the Washington peace agreement, saying peace between the two countries has already been formalized and must be respected.
In an interview with Radio France Internationale on Tuesday, Nduhungirehe said the agreement was signed June 27, 2025, in Washington, D.C., with U.S. support. He noted that several expert security meetings between Rwanda and the DRC have taken place to implement measures aimed at restoring stability in the region.
“Progress is being made in restoring security,” Nduhungirehe said, adding that joint initiatives are being carried out in a structured and sustainable manner.
However, he said implementing the agreement remains a challenge because the DRC continues to favor military action. “There are ongoing attacks by both manned military aircraft and unmanned drones by Congolese forces,” he said. He added that these attacks strike not only FDLR/M23 strongholds but also areas inhabited by Banyamulenge and Tutsi communities in South Kivu.
Nduhungirehe said the DRC must dismantle the FDLR, a group including some perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, as outlined in the peace agreement. “FDLR continues to be integrated into DRC forces, which provide them with support,” he said.
He stressed that Rwanda is prepared to remove its defense measures, but only once the DRC demonstrates political will to dismantle FDLR.
On humanitarian efforts, Nduhungirehe said discussions are ongoing in Doha, Qatar, about reopening Goma airport. He noted Rwanda opened its borders in January 2025 to refugees fleeing DRC, soldiers escaping conflict, and displaced civilians.
Nduhungirehe criticized the DRC for repeatedly calling for sanctions against Rwanda instead of implementing the agreement. He said lasting peace in the Great Lakes region depends on dismantling FDLR and honoring the commitments signed in Washington.
The peace agreement, signed June 27, focuses on dismantling FDLR and removing Rwanda’s defense measures. The CONOPS plan, approved in October 2024 during Luanda peace talks, outlines these steps.
“Peace will only come when FDLR fighters, supported and funded by Kinshasa and integrated into its forces, are dismantled,” Nduhungirehe said.
He added that FDLR continues to operate with support from the DRC and has shown no willingness to disarm. Rwanda has maintained its defense measures to prevent attacks by FDLR and its allies, including assaults in Musanze in 2022 and Rubavu in January 2025.
