Rwanda Rejects EU Parliament’s ‘Biased’ Stance on DRC Conflict

• Feb 22, 2025

Rwanda’s Parliament has strongly condemned a recent resolution by the European Parliament on the security crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), accusing it of promoting a biased narrative. The Rwandan lawmakers argue that the resolution ignores the real causes of the conflict and fails to acknowledge Rwanda’s security concerns.

In a statement released on Friday, Rwanda’s Parliament rejected claims by the European Parliament that the crisis is mainly driven by mineral exploitation. Instead, it blamed the DRC government for fuelling ethnic divisions and violence, particularly against Congolese Tutsi communities.

“The European Parliament deliberately ignores the massacres, hate speech, and persecution targeting Congolese Tutsi,” the statement read.

According to Rwanda’s Parliament, the crisis is deeply rooted in historical ethnic conflicts that have worsened due to the DRC government’s failure to address long-standing grievances. It further accused the Congolese leadership of forming a coalition to destabilize Rwanda. The alleged coalition includes the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), a militia composed of individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, along with Burundian forces, local militias known as Wazalendo, and European mercenaries.

Accusations of Military Threats

Rwanda claims that this coalition has acquired heavy weaponry, including attack drones, guided missiles, and mortars, in preparation for a possible confrontation with Rwanda. The statement also alleged that the Congolese military and its allies had dug trenches facing Rwanda, which it views as a direct threat.

Rwanda’s Parliament criticized the European Parliament for failing to condemn the FDLR while targeting the M23 rebel group, which Kigali argues emerged due to unresolved ethnic tensions in the DRC.

“It is shocking that the European Parliament remains silent on the atrocities committed by the FDLR while condemning the M23 Movement without addressing the conditions that led to its resurgence,” the statement said.

The Rwandan government also dismissed calls for sanctions against Kigali, arguing that past sanctions have never brought stability and only embolden the DRC government to continue pursuing a military approach.

Cross-Border Attacks and Call for Dialogue

The statement referenced a recent attack on January 26, 2025, in Rubavu District, where shelling killed 16 people and injured 177 others. Rwanda blamed the DRC government and the FDLR for cross-border attacks and warned of escalating tensions.

Despite its strong criticism of the European Parliament’s stance, Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to resolving the crisis through dialogue. It urged the DRC government to engage with all parties involved in the conflict, including the M23 rebels, as agreed upon during a recent East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Dar es Salaam.

The Rwandan Parliament also called on the international community to take a more balanced approach instead of adopting what it described as one-sided narratives.

“Every sovereign country has the right to protect its territorial integrity. It is time for the international community to encourage real dialogue rather than fuelling divisions with biased resolutions,” the statement said.

The resolution was sent to key international bodies, including the African Union, the European Commission, and the East African Community, highlighting Rwanda’s strong opposition to the European Parliament’s position on the ongoing crisis.