Kigali, Rwanda — President Paul Kagame has urged full and balanced implementation of the Washington Accords aimed at reducing tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, warning that peace efforts risk failing if only one side is expected to meet its obligations.
Speaking in Kigali during a ceremony hosting ambassadors and a High Commissioner, Kagame said the agreement—brokered in Washington with the United States as a third party—was designed to address the security concerns of both countries and create a pathway to stability.
“By definition, a signed peace agreement should bind all parties equally and implementation should follow the text,” Kagame said. “However, this has not been our experience.”
The Washington Accords seek to establish a ceasefire and outline steps to address the long-running crisis in eastern Congo, including the presence of armed groups operating near Rwanda’s border.
Kagame said Rwanda’s primary concern remains the FDLR militia, which he described as an extremist group rooted in the ideology of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
According to Kagame, the group continues to operate from Congolese territory and has been integrated into Congolese military structures.
“The Congolese government has provided political cover and financial support to the FDLR and integrated this group into its military structures,” Kagame said, adding that Rwanda cannot ignore threats from armed groups operating close to its borders. “Every nation has the right and duty to ensure the safety of its borders and people. Rwanda is no exception.”
Relations between Rwanda and the DRC have been tense for years due to violence in eastern Congo, where numerous armed groups operate and regional powers have been accused of backing different factions.
Kagame argued that recent military deployments in eastern Congo undermine peace negotiations and shifting the balance of power through force outside the framework of the Washington process.
Despite the tensions, Kagame said Rwanda remains committed to a peaceful resolution if the agreement is fully respected.
“Rwanda is ready to lift its defensive measures in tandem with the DRC fulfilling its obligations under the Washington Accords,” he said, adding that genuine implementation could open the way for long-term peace and economic cooperation between the two neighbours.