Rwandan President Paul Kagame has again blamed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the prolonged crisis in its eastern region, vowing that Rwanda will maintain necessary measures to protect national security. Speaking at a press conference in the capital Kigali, Kagame stressed that the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group of Rwandan Hutu origin, on DRC territory remains Rwanda's foremost concern.
According to Kagame, if this issue remains unresolved, Rwanda's continued involvement in the conflict is only natural. He accused the DRC government of arming the FDLR and integrating its members into their army. The Rwandan leader said evidence includes testimonies from former FDLR fighters who either returned voluntarily to Rwanda or were captured, all recounting the same story of support from Kinshasa.
Kagame also referenced the Mutobo Demobilization and Reintegration Center, which has hosted delegations from the United States, Europe, and the United Nations, who heard testimony from former combatants. The center is tasked with disarming fighters from armed groups in eastern DRC, particularly the FDLR, and helping them reintegrate into civilian life.
The Rwandan leader also criticized calls for his country to stay out of the crisis, arguing that those making such appeals should first address the FDLR issue. “Remove this problem, and then see whether Rwanda uses it as a pretext,” he said.
On the peace process, on March 18, 2025, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani hosted a meeting between Kagame and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, described as historic, paving the way for two channels of dialogue. On June 27, 2025, the two countries signed a peace agreement in Washington, including provisions to end support for armed groups, respect sovereignty, and coordinate security.
In parallel, Qatar hosted talks between the DRC government and the M23 movement, culminating in the signing of the Doha Framework for Peace on November 15, 2025. The agreement consists of eight protocols aimed at protecting civilians, restoring state authority, and enhancing national reconciliation, with oversight from Qatar, the United States, and the African Union.
In a joint statement, representatives of the DRC government, the M23 alliance, along with Qatar, the United States, Togo, Switzerland, and the African Union Commission welcomed the August 20 field survey, supported logistically by the MONUSCO mission, preparing for the first ceasefire verification mission. On the evening of August 24, a delegation from the joint mechanism verifying compliance with the ceasefire under the Doha agreement arrived in South Kivu province, eastern DRC, also with logistical support from MONUSCO.
