Rwanda reaffirms commitment to Washington Accords, accuses DRC of violations

Rwanda has defended its implementation of a US-brokered peace agreement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), insisting it is meeting its obligations under the Washington Accords while accusing Kinshasa of continuing to support the FDLR militia in violation of the deal.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Government of Rwanda responded to remarks made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on June 4, welcoming his acknowledgement that Kigali is fulfilling its commitments under the agreement.

The Washington Accords, brokered by the United States, provide a framework for addressing the root causes of conflict and insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, a region that has been plagued by armed violence for decades.

While reaffirming its commitment to the peace process, Rwanda stressed that the obligations contained in the agreement are binding on both countries and require equal accountability.

"Rwanda appreciates the continued engagement of the United States, particularly through the Washington Accords, which remain the framework for addressing the root causes of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. However, it is important to recall that the obligations contained in the Washington Accords bind both Rwanda and the DRC and require accountability from all parties," the statement said.

"The Accords cannot be implemented selectively, nor can obligations to be fulfilled by one party be separated from those to be fulfilled by the other. The problems cannot be solved by partiality," it added.

Kigali maintained that it is implementing its commitments under the agreement but accused the DRC of violating the accord through continued support for the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group operating in eastern Congo that Rwanda considers a longstanding threat to its security.

The Rwandan government also alleged that the DRC continues to deploy armed drones in civilian areas, raising concerns about regional stability and security.

"The DRC is in flagrant violation of the agreement through continued state support for the FDLR, a genocidal militia that has operated from Congolese territory for three decades and remains a direct threat to Rwanda's security, as well as through the continued use of armed drones in civilian areas," said Rwanda.