President Paul Kagame has firmly rejected claims suggesting that renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo erupted as a result of Rwanda signing the Washington Peace and Prosperity Agreement with the DRC. Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed government leaders on December 11, 2025, Kagame said such assertions misrepresent both history and reality, insisting that the conflict long predates the recent diplomatic engagement.
Addressing the gathering, Kagame emphasized that violence in eastern Congo did not begin after the December 4, 2025 agreement signed in Washington. He explained that armed confrontations between the Congolese government forces and the AFC/M23 movement had already been ongoing due to previously signed commitments that were not implemented by the parties involved.
According to Kagame, framing the resurgence of fighting as a consequence of the Washington agreement ignores decades of unresolved issues that have repeatedly destabilized the region. He stressed that the conflict cannot be reduced to a single political moment or blamed on a diplomatic effort aimed at restoring peace.
“Some people write as if everything was calm until the agreement was signed and then fighting suddenly emerged. That is not true,” Kagame said, warning against narratives that oversimplify a deeply complex crisis.
The Rwandan leader traced the roots of the eastern Congo conflict back more than 30 years, highlighting historical injustices that continue to shape the region’s instability. He recalled that following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, members of the Interahamwe militia, former government soldiers, and individuals responsible for genocide fled into Congo, bringing with them extremist ideology and organized violence.
These groups, Kagame noted, did not remain isolated but became deeply embedded within local communities, contributing to cycles of hatred, ethnic targeting, and insecurity. Over time, their presence influenced political and social dynamics in eastern Congo, particularly against Congolese Tutsi communities who became targets of persecution and exclusion.
As violence escalated, thousands of Congolese Tutsi were forced to flee their homes. Kagame stated that Rwanda continues to host more than 130,000 Congolese refugees who escaped decades of insecurity, a humanitarian burden he said reflects the long-standing nature of the crisis rather than any recent development.
From these persistent grievances, multiple armed groups emerged, including the AFC/M23, which presents itself as a movement fighting for the rights, safety, and political recognition of communities that have faced systematic marginalization. Kagame did not endorse armed conflict but stressed that ignoring the underlying grievances only perpetuates instability.
He further explained that before the Washington agreement was signed, there were already existing frameworks and commitments aimed at resolving the conflict. The failure to fully implement those agreements created conditions for renewed fighting, making it inaccurate to associate the violence solely with Rwanda’s diplomatic engagement.
On December 4, 2025, President Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi signed the Peace and Prosperity Agreement in Washington, facilitated by United States President Donald Trump. The agreement was presented as a step toward reducing tensions, restoring trust, and addressing security challenges in the Great Lakes region.
Kagame said Rwanda signed the agreement because it understands the value of peace more than most countries, given its own history. He emphasized that Rwanda has consistently supported dialogue, regional cooperation, and political solutions to long-running conflicts.
However, he criticized what he described as deliberate attempts by some political actors to redirect blame toward Rwanda for Congo’s internal problems. Kagame argued that such narratives persist despite widespread knowledge of the true causes of the conflict.
He noted that many individuals Rwanda engages with privately acknowledge the real drivers of the crisis but later adopt different public positions for personal or political reasons. This, he said, undermines genuine peace efforts and distorts international understanding of the situation.
Kagame cautioned that Rwanda cannot be expected to assume responsibility for failures that lie beyond its borders. While reaffirming Rwanda’s commitment to regional stability, he said accountability must be shared and based on facts rather than political convenience.
The president reiterated that Rwanda remains committed to fully honoring the Washington agreement. He stressed, however, that peace cannot be achieved through signatures alone and requires honesty, political will, and respect for commitments from all sides involved.
“Peace requires responsibility from everyone,” Kagame said, adding that selective narratives and denial of historical realities only delay solutions.
He also addressed Rwanda’s approach to security, stating that while the country prioritizes dialogue and peaceful coexistence, it retains the capacity to defend itself if necessary. Kagame emphasized that Rwanda’s preference is long-term stability rather than short-term military responses.
The remarks come amid heightened regional and international scrutiny of developments in eastern Congo. The area has remained volatile for decades, with numerous armed groups operating amid weak governance, competition over resources, and unresolved ethnic tensions.
Observers note that the Washington Peace and Prosperity Agreement was intended to create momentum toward de-escalation rather than serve as a trigger for violence. Kagame’s comments reflect Rwanda’s position that sustainable peace requires confronting the historical and structural causes of conflict, rather than focusing on recent diplomatic milestones.
The Great Lakes region has repeatedly suffered from cycles of violence driven by displacement, armed mobilization, and broken agreements. Kagame argued that lasting peace will only emerge when these patterns are acknowledged and addressed comprehensively.
He concluded by reaffirming Rwanda’s desire for peace, stability, and mutual respect among neighboring countries. According to Kagame, regional security cannot be built on misinformation or shifting blame but on truth, accountability, and sustained cooperation.
As diplomatic efforts continue, Kagame’s remarks underscore Rwanda’s insistence that the crisis in eastern Congo must be understood in its full historical context if meaningful and durable solutions are to be achieved.
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