"If DRCongo fails to disarm FDLR, We will handle It in our way"President Paul Kagame says
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said that if the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fails to dismantle the FDLR rebel group as agreed in recent peace accords, Rwanda will continue to address the threat using its own established methods.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, July 4, 2025, President Kagame was asked about Rwanda’s course of action if DRC does not disarm the FDLR, a group largely composed of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The dismantling of the FDLR was one of the key provisions in the peace agreement signed between Rwanda and DRC in Washington on June 27, 2025. Rwanda has long viewed the FDLR’s presence in eastern Congo as a direct security threat.
In his response, Kagame emphasized that if the FDLR is not neutralized, Rwanda will continue to act to protect its national security.
“If the issue of FDLR is not resolved, despite mechanisms put in place in the agreement, it means the problem will persist, and Rwanda will continue doing what it must do. When FDLR remains close to our borders, there is no magic wand to solve it – only action to address it as required,” Kagame said.
The President further stated that Rwanda is ready to fulfill its commitments under the agreement.
“We clearly stated our concerns, and based on those, we agreed to take certain actions together with others. We will do our part; you will never see Rwanda failing to implement what it agreed to do. But if the other side fails and creates problems for us, we will continue addressing them as we have always done,” he said.
President Kagame acknowledged that in such agreements, it is common for one party to fail to uphold their commitments.
“Agreements exist, with each party committing to specific responsibilities individually or jointly. But not everyone always acts truthfully or fulfills their promises,” he remarked.
He reaffirmed Rwanda’s position:
“From our side, we will do what we agreed to, to the best of our ability. However, some of what we do depends on what others do. If they fail to fulfill their side, it affects what we must do. We will seek solutions in all possible ways, but as long as no effective solution is found, Rwanda will continue to do everything necessary to protect its citizens and its territory. We will not compromise our security because others failed to meet their obligations.”
President Kagame’s comments came shortly after Massad Boulos, the US Presidential Advisor for Africa Partnerships, expressed confidence in Kagame’s commitment to the Washington peace deal.
“President Kagame demonstrated his readiness to implement the peace agreement and reaffirmed his support for a peaceful resolution of this conflict,” Boulos said.
Boulos also noted that President Kagame supports the ongoing Doha peace talks between the M23 rebel group and the DRC government.
