Africa-Press – Rwanda. International sanctions against Rwanda over the security crisis in eastern DR Congo will undermine peace efforts, Gen. (Rtd.) James Kabarebe, Minister of State for Regional Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned.
Speaking in Kigali on Tuesday, February 25, during a meeting with Rwandan political parties, Kabarebe outlined the root causes of the security crisis and Rwanda’s defensive measures.
Kabarebe stated that after M23 gained dominance in parts of eastern DR Congo, the Congolese government labeled the crisis a “Rwandan issue,” alleging that Rwanda supports the rebel group—a narrative also adopted by the international community.
He pointed out that DR Congo expelled the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) and instead welcomed the Southern African Development Community Mission in DR Congo (SAMIDRC) and the Burundian army, aiming to fight M23.
Gen. (Rtd.) James Kabarebe, Minister of State for Regional Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addresses members during a meeting with Rwandan political parties in Kigali on Tuesday, February 25.
The M23 rebel group, he argued, has been advocating for the rights of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese, who have faced long-standing persecution.
At the same time, he accused the Congolese national army (FARDC), in coalition with these forces, of backing the FDLR militia—composed of elements responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi—and posing a direct threat to Rwanda’s security.
Sanctions and Political ramifications
On February 20, the U.S. sanctioned Kabarebe, alleging he serves as a liaison between the Rwandan government and M23 and orchestrates RDF support for the armed group. A week earlier, the European Parliament passed a resolution accusing Rwanda of controlling M23 and demanded the withdrawal of its troops from DR Congo.
The resolution also proposed potential sanctions, including freezing direct budget support to Rwanda, targeting RDF commanders, and canceling the 2025 UCI Road World Championships set to be held in Kigali if Rwanda does not comply.
Kabarebe emphasized that two existing peace frameworks—the Nairobi Process (focused on DR Congo and M23) and the Luanda Process (addressing Rwanda-DR Congo tensions)—were not effectively coordinated.
He underscored that Rwanda cannot negotiate with DR Congo while the latter refuses to engage with M23,.
Risks of targeting Rwanda
The two parallel peace processes are now being merged under an East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiative, with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn joining as mediators.
While Kabarebe acknowledged that this approach could be productive if backed by regional and African Union support, he warned that the international community is undermining the effort by prioritizing sanctions against Rwanda.
“When Tshisekedi hears that Rwanda is being sanctioned, he will have no incentive to attend peace talks,” he said, accusing external powers of seeking DR Congo’s minerals while using Rwanda as a scapegoat.
He further claimed that DR Congo has promised foreign powers mineral access in exchange for support against Rwanda, but predicted conflicts among those same nations over resource control.
Human rights violations overlooked
Kabarebe condemned what he described as genocide ideology against Congolese Tutsi, citing documented cases of persecution, including killings and public calls by Congolese leaders to “kill and eat Tutsi.” He noted that despite video evidence of such atrocities, no Congolese officials have faced international sanctions.
He also highlighted the detention of over 500 Congolese Tutsi in DR Congo prisons, pointing out the silence of international organizations on the matter while Rwanda remains the primary target of scrutiny.
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