Rwanda's foreign minister has issued a stark warning that the nation will respond to any further attacks originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as diplomatic tensions between the two East African neighbors intensify.
The dispute centers on accusations of cross-border support for armed militias in eastern DRC, a region sharing a border with Rwanda. Both nations have exchanged allegations of backing rebel groups, with Rwanda specifically citing the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) as responsible for recent incursions.
Rwanda accused Congolese forces of launching rockets into its territory and kidnapping two soldiers during a patrol. In response, the Congolese army claimed the Rwandan soldiers had trespassed and were detained. Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta emphasized Rwanda's commitment to self-defense, stating, "If the attacks continue, Rwanda will have a right to respond and we have the capacity to respond." He added, "We do not want war, we want peace," but stressed the government's duty to protect its citizens.
The conflict escalated further when Congolese authorities suspended Rwanda's national airline, RwandAir, over allegations of supporting the M23 rebel group. The airline subsequently canceled all flights to the DRC. This follows long-standing accusations from Rwanda that the DRC government collaborates with the FDLR, a militia active in eastern DRC.
Tensions between the countries date back to the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, when Hutu extremists fled to DRC. Despite a period of improved relations after DRC President Felix Tshisekedi took office in 2019, recent clashes between Congolese forces and M23 have reignited hostilities. Protests in Kinshasa have demanded the expulsion of Rwanda's ambassador, while the UN reported 72,000 people displaced by renewed violence, facing ongoing threats to their safety and property.
