Rwanda calls on EU to stand firm against DR Congo’s ‘distraction tactics'
Rwanda also pointed out the EU's internal politics, which it believes influence foreign policy decisions and undermine efforts to address the crisis.
Rwanda has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of misleading the international community by calling for sanctions on Kigali.
According to Rwanda's Minister of State, Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, these actions are intended to divert attention from the DRC's internal issues, including rampant corruption, human rights abuses and governance failures.
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"The DRC cannot continue to mislead the international community by calling for sanctions on Rwanda to mask its governance failures, grave human rights abuses against its own citizens," he said in a statement on Friday.
Speaking after a meeting with the European Union (EU) Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region Johan Borgstam on Thursday, Kabarebe outlined Rwanda's concerns regarding the ongoing insecurity in eastern DRC.
He slammed attempts to compare the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with the war in Ukraine.
"The situation in eastern DRC is not comparable to the conflict in Ukraine. Any attempt to draw such comparisons is purely political and deflects from the real issues," Kabarebe stated.
The minister emphasised that the DRC's internal problems such as the presence of over 200 armed groups, the systematic persecution of Congolese Tutsi communities and the FDLR genocidal militia continue to fuel the crisis.
"The FDLR, which has been responsible for atrocities in the region, is a major threat. These are the very groups causing instability, not Rwanda," Kabarebe said.
The minister further stressed that Rwanda faces an existential threat due to the presence of the DRC's international military coalition, which includes forces from Burundi, ethnic militias and foreign mercenaries.
"We will not allow foreign forces near our borders. Rwanda's sovereignty has been violated over 20 times since 2018, and we will continue to take defensive measures until these threats are fully addressed," Kabarebe said.
EU's internal politics
In addition to that, Rwanda also pointed out the EU's internal politics, which it believes influence foreign policy decisions and undermine efforts to address the crisis.
"Punitive measures such as sanctions only harm peace efforts. They do not solve the situation, and they undermine African-led initiatives to bring peace to the region," Kabarebe said.
He urged EU member states to support regional peace efforts without letting political interests interfere.
"The DRC cannot continue to use sanctions as a smokescreen for its internal failures. It is time for the international community to focus on real solutions for peace," Kabarebe said.
Last week, the Rwandan parliament criticised the European Parliament's call for sanctions against Kigali, warning that such measures have historically failed to bring peace and instead emboldened the DRC government to pursue a military solution.
"Sanctions have never brought stability. Instead, they strengthen those who seek to escalate the conflict," Rwanda said in a statement.
The Rwandan parliament also denounced the European Parliament for failing to condemn the FDLR, despite what it described as the group's central role in the region's instability.
"It is shocking that the European Parliament remains silent on the atrocities committed by the FDLR while condemning the M23 Movement (M23) without addressing the conditions that led to its resurgence," the statement said.
Rwanda also criticised the European Parliament's call for sanctions against Kigali, warning that such measures have historically failed to bring peace and instead emboldened the DRC government to pursue a military solution.
"Sanctions have never brought stability. Instead, they strengthen those who seek to escalate the conflict," the statement added.
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