Rwanda’s foreign minister has declared that the country does not fear diplomatic isolation over the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), asserting that Rwanda will continue to defend its borders despite international pressure.
The remarks come as the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group has taken control of two major cities in eastern DRC in recent weeks, significantly expanding its presence since resuming hostilities in late 2021.
Speaking to the UN correspondents’ association ACANU, Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe dismissed concerns over punitive measures, including Britain’s recent decision to suspend most of its direct bilateral aid to Rwanda and US-imposed sanctions on a Rwandan government minister.
“Any talks about punitive measures and sanctions against Rwanda cannot sway us from protecting our borders and our population,” he stated.
“Rwanda doesn’t fear to be isolated. We are facing an existential threat against our country from a genocidal force.
“So talking about being diplomatically isolated is not a concern for the time being.”
Nduhungirehe made these comments during his visit to Geneva, where he addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council.
In his speech, he warned that the cancer of violent ethnic extremism and genocide ideology has once again re-emerged in the Great Lakes region.
Nduhungirehe accused groups in eastern DRC of engaging in hate speech, persecution, lynching, and even acts of cannibalism against Congolese Tutsi, calling on the UN to take immediate action. When pressed for further details, he claimed such incidents were widely shared on social media.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Monday that the fall of more cities in eastern DRC increases the risk of a regional war.
However, Nduhungirehe told reporters: “If there is good will, we don’t fear any regional war, especially as now on the ground there is a de facto ceasefire: there is no more fighting.
“This concern is now going away” due to peace efforts by two African regional blocs, he said.
However, he added, “We are living this crisis for the past 30 years… it’s now or never to ensure that the security concerns of Rwanda and all countries of the region are addressed, so we can reap the economic dividends of peace.”
Despite the foreign minister’s remarks, the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC remains severe.
DRC’s Prime Minister revealed on Monday that more than 7,000 people have been killed in the region since January, with over 3,000 casualties reported in the city of Goma alone.
Nduhungirehe dismissed the claim, stating that the deaths in Goma primarily involved combatants from the Congolese army and its allies rather than civilians.
