The spokesperson for the Office of the President of Rwanda, Stephanie Nyombayire, stated that the decisions made by the international community to side with the falsehoods of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are not aimed at the well-being of Rwandans or Congolese citizens but rather at safeguarding business interests.
She made these remarks following the recent sanctions imposed on Rwanda by the United Kingdom, despite claims that both sides of the conflict had been heard. These sanctions appear to disregard Rwanda’s longstanding security concerns, which have persisted for nearly 30 years due to continuous conflicts in eastern DRC.
The motive behind sanctions and the dismissal of facts
Nyombayire emphasized that these sanctions seek to reinforce the idea that Rwanda’s security concerns are insignificant on the global stage, even as the DRC continues to collaborate with perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, particularly fighters from the FDLR militia.
She stated:
“Contrary to what some want us to believe, Rwanda has always called for a political solution to this crisis, because solving the issue of displaced populations cannot be achieved through war.”
Rwanda has repeatedly highlighted the plight of Congolese Tutsi communities, who have been forcibly displaced for over 25 years, with more than 100,000 currently living as refugees in Rwanda.
Nyombayire explained that FDLR has continued to promote genocide ideology while destabilizing Rwanda’s security. Meanwhile, the DRC government has deliberately obstructed efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.
Tshisekedi’s double standards
Regarding the M23 rebel group, largely composed of displaced Congolese Tutsi fighters, Nyombayire accused President Félix Tshisekedi of employing double standards—telling the international community that he is willing to negotiate with them while simultaneously vowing never to do so.
“We will not engage in such hypocrisy,”—Nyombayire.
She further explained that the international community’s decisions concerning the DRC are designed to obscure the real issue, allowing global powers to maintain control over the situation rather than resolve it.
She added:
“Every resolution and statement calls for a return to the status quo: the country must remain a lawless battlefield, its leaders focused on acquiring luxury properties in Brussels, while the international community profits from so-called peacekeeping missions and poverty reduction programs, and corporations safeguard their financial interests.”
Nyombayire pointed out that the same nations supporting the DRC would never tolerate even a fraction of the security threats that Rwanda has endured for the past 30 years.
“The falsehoods being spread are carefully crafted because the truth disrupts business interests. In this equation, the voices of the people in both countries are irrelevant, and ultimately, the goal of these leaders is not a path to sustainable peace.”
