Rwanda’s Parliament has strongly criticized the European Parliament’s recent resolution on the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), calling for a more balanced and objective approach to addressing the crisis.
In a resolution passed on February 21, 2025, Rwandan lawmakers condemned what they termed as “selective outrage” from the European Parliament, accusing it of unfairly targeting Rwanda while overlooking the role of the Congolese government and its allied militias in fueling the conflict. They argued that ignoring historical and political complexities only worsens the situation and increases tensions in the region.
The Rwandan Parliament emphasized that the crisis in eastern DRC is deeply rooted in unresolved colonial-era territorial arrangements, which left Kinyarwanda-speaking communities within Congolese borders. Successive Congolese governments, they argued, have failed to address ethnic discrimination and violence against the Congolese Tutsi community, contributing to ongoing instability.
Lawmakers also pointed to the presence of over 250 armed groups in eastern DRC, particularly the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), a militia composed of individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. According to Rwanda’s Parliament, the Congolese government has integrated some of these militias into its armed forces, forming an anti-Rwanda coalition that includes Burundian forces, European mercenaries, and ethnic militias known as Wazalendo.
Rwanda further condemned recent cross-border attacks on its territory, including the deadly assault in Rubavu on January 26, which killed 16 people and injured 177 others. Lawmakers asserted that Rwanda has a right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens from such security threats.
The European Parliament’s focus on the March 23 Movement (M23) was also criticized, with Rwandan lawmakers arguing that it ignored the conditions that led to the group’s resurgence. Additionally, they highlighted ongoing atrocities against Congolese Tutsi communities, who face targeted killings, hate speech, and persecution.
Rejecting claims that the conflict is driven by mineral exploitation, Rwanda’s Parliament insisted that internal ethnic divisions and governance failures in the DRC are at the root of the crisis. They warned against the politicization of development aid and cautioned that sanctions against Rwanda would embolden Kinshasa’s military ambitions rather than foster peace.
Despite rising tensions, Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to diplomatic solutions and welcomed regional peace efforts, including agreements reached at the EAC-SADC Heads of State Summit in Dar es Salaam on February 8. The resolution urged the international community to support dialogue over bias and play a constructive role in ensuring long-term peace in the Great Lakes region.
