During a press briefing held on Thursday, July 3, 2025, Minister Kayikwamba addressed questions surrounding the peace agreement recently signed between Rwanda and the DRC in Washington. The discussion focused particularly on the FDLR and its role in the continued insecurity in eastern DRC.
When asked about her country’s commitment to dismantling the FDLR, Minister Kayikwamba affirmed that the DRC is prepared to act in line with the provisions of the peace deal.
She noted that the issue of the FDLR has been repeatedly raised over the past three decades and insisted that her government is ready to resolve it.
However, she also questioned the extent of the group’s threat, suggesting that its continued mention has served more as a political pretext than a pressing security concern.
She argued that any solution must begin with an honest assessment of how many FDLR members remain and the scale of the threat they actually pose.
Once that is established, she said, the matter can be resolved through various means, and the objective can be declared achieved.
In response, Minister Nduhungirehe emphasized that Rwanda would welcome any sincere efforts to dismantle the FDLR.
He pointed out that if the DRC now considers the FDLR merely an old pretext, Rwanda is equally prepared to lift Kinshasa’s pretext (defensive measures), on the condition that the FDLR is genuinely and permanently neutralized.
He underscored that with political will, anything is possible, and reiterated Rwanda’s readiness to respond in kind once the security threat posed by the FDLR is eliminated.
The exchange came in the wake of the peace agreement signed between Rwanda and the DRC on June 27, 2025, aimed at addressing the ongoing insecurity in eastern Congo.
The deal includes commitments to respect national sovereignty, end hostilities, disarm non-state armed groups, support the reintegration of combatants, facilitate the return of refugees, and promote regional economic cooperation.
A key component of the agreement is a joint framework for dismantling the FDLR, whose continued presence has long been a source of tension between the two countries.
These are the words of Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, describing how the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) overcame the odds to liberate Rwanda. As of today, 31 years have passed since that historic victory.
All warfare requires strategy, but military conflict especially demands innovative and adaptive tactics. When the RPA launched the liberation war in 1990, it had spent years regrouping and preparing. Many of the men who started the war had served in the Ugandan military in various roles.
Maj Gen Fred Rwigyema led the first attack on October 1, 1990. He was a seasoned commander who had played a key role in Uganda’s liberation war, serving as deputy to Gen Elly Tumwine, who was injured early in the conflict. Rwigyema took over from there.
However, the liberation of Rwanda did not begin as expected. On October 2, just one day after the war began, Maj Gen Rwigyema was killed. Other senior commanders, including Maj Chris Bunyenyezi and Maj Peter Bayingana, were also killed shortly after. Bayingana was ambushed on the road from Kagitumba to Gabiro, and Bunyenyezi was killed on the way from Nyagatare.
Initially, the RPA used conventional warfare, which is characterized by open, face-to-face engagements where opposing forces establish clear frontlines. This form of fighting dates back centuries and was historically done with spears and swords. Later, it evolved with the use of firearms and heavy artillery, tanks, and airplanes.
In both World Wars, tanks and aircraft became dominant in conventional warfare. Each side would dig trenches, set up defensive lines, and battle for control of enemy positions. But this method has major drawbacks: it’s costly, predictable, and results in heavy casualties due to the mass concentration of troops in single locations.
This conventional approach was what the RPA relied on in the early days of the war. But everything changed when Maj Gen Paul Kagame returned from military training in the United States and took over the command of a demoralized and scattered army.
When Kagame arrived in Kagitumba, many soldiers were already seeking ways to retreat back to Uganda. Even Gen (Rtd) Fred Ibingira admitted that he was preparing to return to Uganda, as the battle seemed lost.
Kagame, referred to as “Afande PC,” immediately called for a regrouping of the troops. In meetings with senior commanders, he urged them to reconsider retreating, arguing that going back was not an option. Their only goal should be to liberate Rwanda and stop the ongoing massacres against the Tutsi.
At that moment, the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) were celebrating, believing they had defeated the RPA completely. But Kagame introduced a new battle strategy: shifting from conventional to mobile and guerrilla warfare.
The first operation under this new tactic was the attack on Gatuna in early November, led by Col (Rtd) Twahirwa Ludovic, known as Dodo. It was a highly organized assault that greatly boosted morale among the troops, especially those who were just entering the battle and had not witnessed the chaos of the early days.
On the same day that Gatuna was captured, it was officially announced that Fred Rwigyema had died, news that brought sorrow but also renewed determination among the fighters.
The combined tactics of mobile warfare and guerrilla warfare turned the tide of the liberation struggle. RPA troops relocated from Mutara to the Virunga mountains, from where they launched operations and conducted training.
Guerrilla warfare involves small, highly mobile units launching surprise attacks on enemy positions and then retreating. Even three soldiers could wreak havoc, creating the illusion of a much larger force. This method is ideal for ambushes, sabotage (e.g., destroying bridges), and psychological warfare, creating confusion and disorientation among enemy ranks.
Although sabotage is common in guerrilla tactics, the RPA avoided destroying key infrastructure since rebuilding would be a priority after liberation.
Former FAR soldiers have testified that they often felt disoriented, unsure of where to focus their defenses or what the RPA’s next move would be.
Mobile warfare, while similar to guerrilla tactics, focuses more on identifying and targeting enemy weaknesses. It involves cutting off supply routes, surrounding the enemy, and defeating them decisively. It is faster-paced and relies heavily on intelligence and coordination among units.
Historically, mobile warfare was used effectively by Germany during the Blitzkrieg campaigns between 1939 and 1941, allowing rapid conquests of Poland, France, and Soviet territory. During the Korean War (1950–1953), Chinese forces used night raids and rapid movements to overwhelm their enemies. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israeli forces also applied mobile warfare tactics to defeat neighboring Arab armies swiftly.
The primary goal of mobile warfare is to win quickly, using strong internal coordination and real-time intelligence about enemy movements and vulnerabilities.
Thanks to the adaptation of these tactics, the RPA managed to withstand greater firepower, outmaneuver a better-equipped enemy, and ultimately liberate the country—proving that strategy, courage, and adaptability can overcome overwhelming odds.
The bill, a cornerstone of Trump’s second-term agenda, cleared the House 218-214, with two Republicans, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, joining a united Democratic front in opposition. Earlier in the week, the Senate narrowly approved the measure, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
At nearly 900 pages, the legislation is a mammoth rewrite of U.S. economic and social priorities. It combines $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, deep reductions in Medicaid and food assistance, a record $350 billion for immigration enforcement and border wall construction, and ambitious spending on military modernisation, including $25 billion for a new missile shield called the Golden Dome.
But with a projected price tag of $3.3 trillion added to the national deficit over the next decade, the bill has set off alarm bells among fiscal watchdogs and drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who call it a “reverse Robin Hood” policy.
{{A tax revolution, but at what cost?
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At the heart of the bill is a permanent extension of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which were set to expire later this year. It introduces new deductions on tips, overtime, and auto loans; expands the child tax credit slightly from $2,000 to $2,200; and eliminates taxes on Social Security benefits for many older Americans. Businesses also gain immediate write-offs for research and equipment costs.
But according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill will give the wealthiest Americans an average annual tax cut of $12,000, while the poorest may lose $1,600 a year due to cutbacks in federal aid.
“This is not a middle-class tax cut. It’s a windfall for the rich funded by taking food and health care from the vulnerable,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Republicans insist the tax reforms are essential to avoid what they call an “automatic tax hike” come December and argue the changes will unleash unprecedented economic growth.
{{Safety net restructured
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To offset some of the cost, the bill imposes sweeping new restrictions on Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps), including 80-hour monthly work requirements for most adult recipients up to age 65 and new $35 co-pays for Medicaid services. Parents with children aged 14 and above would also be required to meet the work thresholds.
The CBO estimates that 11.8 million Americans could lose Medicaid coverage by 2034, and another 3 million could lose access to SNAP. States will also begin sharing the cost of SNAP by 2028 if their payment error rates exceed 6%, a provision softened after a push from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
{{Border wall, mass deportation plans receive major boost
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Fulfilling a signature Trump promise, the bill allocates $350 billion for immigration enforcement. That includes funding for 100,000 migrant detention beds, the hiring of 10,000 ICE agents with $10,000 signing bonuses, and infrastructure for the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history, aiming to remove 1 million undocumented immigrants per year.
Immigrants applying for asylum protections will now face additional processing fees.
{{Military, space, and symbolic add-ons
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Beyond domestic and economic policy, the bill delivers a massive windfall to the Pentagon: billions for shipbuilding, munitions systems, and the new missile defence program. It also includes $1 billion in Defence Department border spending, $40 million for Trump’s long-touted “National Garden of American Heroes,” and billions for space exploration, including the Artemis moon mission and future Mars landings.
The bill also introduces “Trump Accounts,” a new federal savings plan for children, seeded with a $1,000 Treasury deposit.
The bill also includes several controversial provisions. It ends federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year and rolls back clean energy tax credits, including those for electric vehicles, which will now expire on September 30. It imposes a new 1% tax on remittances and university endowments, eliminates the $200 tax on gun silencers and certain rifles, and expands compensation for individuals affected by nuclear testing.
{{A new fiscal frontier or a mirage?
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The bill raises the U.S. debt ceiling by $5 trillion to cover past and new spending. However, Republican senators argue that since many tax cuts were already “current policy,” their extension should not count as new spending — a controversial accounting method that, they say, turns a $3.3 trillion deficit increase into a $500 billion reduction.
Democrats and independent economists have called this “budgetary sleight of hand.” The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget labeled it “an accounting gimmick that would make Enron executives blush.”
{{Holiday signing
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House Speaker Mike Johnson hailed the bill as a sweeping effort to reverse what he called the “disaster of the Biden-Harris regime.”
“Everything was broken — we tried to fix it all, in one big, beautiful bill,” he said after the vote.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the measure as “the largest middle-class tax cut in American history” and a “commonsense agenda that nearly 80 million Americans voted for.”
President Trump is expected to sign the bill at a high-profile ceremony at the White House on Friday at 5 p.m. ET, coinciding with Independence Day celebrations, symbolising, as the administration put it, “the beginning of America’s Golden Age.”
According to the group, the DRC representatives showed little commitment to signing a ceasefire agreement, which was a key expectation during the negotiations.
Speaking at a press briefing on July 3, 2025, Benjamin Mbonimpa, head of the AFC/M23 delegation in Doha, said that every time they arrived in Qatar, they anticipated the signing of a ceasefire pact. However, the Kinshasa government repeatedly rejected the agreement.
“Kinshasa has chosen to portray Rwanda as its enemy, yet the issues between Rwanda and the DRC are strictly state-level matters. Our concern is with the Congolese government. We engage directly with the government because only through dialogue can this conflict be resolved and peace restored, but unfortunately, not all officials seem to understand this,” Mbonimpa explained.
He further stated that while peace talks were ongoing, the DRC government was simultaneously planning military offensives against territories controlled by M23. He pointed to the presence of foreign mercenaries in Kisangani, including Colombians and Americans, preparing attacks.
Mbonimpa also accused the DRC government of supporting militias such as Wazalendo and Mai-Mai by providing them with drones and heavy weaponry to regain control over captured areas.
Mbonimpa noted a striking difference in how delegations approached the talks, saying while M23 consistently presented official documents authorising their participation, DRC representatives never showed any credentials.
“We found it difficult to negotiate with people who came without any official mandate or letter of appointment. We would present our authorisation to the mediator, but the DRC representatives came without any proof of government backing. They behaved more like informal participants than official negotiators,” he said.
According to AFC/M23, the first and most critical step in the talks was supposed to be signing a ceasefire agreement. However, the DRC government repeatedly refused to commit to this.
Despite rejecting the ceasefire in talks, the DRC government has often publicly accused M23 of rejecting peace efforts.
M23 maintains that since 2022, it has declared ceasefires unilaterally on five occasions, while the DRC government has not taken similar steps.
Ebang Engonga, 55, is the former head of the General Directorate of Insurance and Reinsurance (DGAR) and a nephew of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. He is also the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjo, the current president of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).
He dominated headlines late last year over a sex scandal involving over 400 women in the Central African country.
His trial, unfolding in the capital Malabo, centers on charges of embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office during his tenure between 2015 and 2020.
Prosecutors allege that Ebang Engonga orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to divert state funds for personal use. The indictment seeks eight years for embezzlement, four years and five months for illicit enrichment, and six years and one day for abuse of office.
In addition to prison time, the prosecution is requesting a fine of more than 910 million CFA francs (approx. $1.5 million) and a ban from holding public office for the duration of the sentence.
The case, dubbed the “Treasury Trial,” involves six other former DGAR officials facing similar charges. Among them are Carmelo Julio Matogo Ndong, Ireneo Mangue Monsuy Afana, and Florentina Iganga Iñandji.
The legal proceedings have been further inflamed by the scandalous revelations about Ebang Engonga’s personal life. In late 2024, authorities recovered explicit videos from Ebang Engonga’s electronic devices during the investigation.
The recordings, some filmed in his government office and involving women reportedly linked to government officials, sparked a public firestorm and added to growing calls for accountability within the ruling elite.
The defence has rejected the charges as unfounded and politically charged, calling into question the credibility of the evidence, including the financial audit and video materials presented by the prosecution. Ebang Engonga’s legal team maintains that the proceedings are intended to sideline him from public life.
The trial, which began Monday, is expected to conclude by the end of the week, with a verdict likely in the coming days.
The decision was made following the approval of the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran and in view of the security and safety assessments under the country’s present circumstances, spokesman of the Iranian Roads and Urban Development Ministry Majid Akhavan said in a statement.
He said that the suspension of domestic and foreign flights to and from airports in Iran’s northern, southern and western parts was extended until 14:00 local time (1030 GMT) on Thursday.
He added the country’s eastern airspace, which had been reopened on June 29 to domestic and international flights, would remain open.
Iran on Saturday reopened its airspace in central and western areas to international transit flights.
The country closed its airspace on June 13 following Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and other areas. After a 12-day aerial conflict, the two countries achieved a ceasefire on June 24.
The two-day event marks the fourth global observance of the day and is expected to spotlight Kiswahili’s growing role in regional integration, education, diplomacy, and economic development.
Organised under the theme “Kiswahili, Inclusive Education and Sustainable Development,” the celebrations are recognised by UNESCO and are being held in partnership with the East African Community (EAC) and the Government of Rwanda.
In a joint statement released Tuesday, the organisers said the event will serve as a platform to reaffirm Kiswahili’s importance in shaping Africa’s unity, identity, and development trajectory.
“This year’s celebration aims to reaffirm Kiswahili’s pivotal role in fostering regional integration, cultural identity, and socio-economic development across the continent,” the statement read.
The programme will feature a mix of cultural showcases — including music, poetry, and visual art performed in Kiswahili — as well as academic dialogues and expert panel discussions on the language’s application in education, technology, media, and public policy.
The East African Kiswahili Commission, headquartered in Zanzibar, is leading efforts to standardise and promote the language across the region. Established under Article 137 (2) of the EAC Treaty, the commission provides support through research, curriculum development, terminology coordination, and policy guidance.
According to the organisers, Kiswahili’s significance goes far beyond the classroom. The language is increasingly seen as a strategic tool for strengthening political ties and facilitating cross-border communication among EAC member states.
“It is also vital for effective diplomacy, enabling clearer communication and building stronger political relationships,” the statement noted.
“Economically, emphasising Kiswahili in business transactions across the African Free Trade Area enhances trade efficiency and opportunities, boosting economic growth and creating job opportunities across various sectors.”
The Kigali gathering is expected to draw a diverse range of stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, linguists, artists, and civil society representatives, all united in celebrating Kiswahili’s role as a language of daily life and intercultural exchange.
Kiswahili is spoken by more than 200 million people across Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa. It serves as a working language of both the African Union and the East African Community, and its influence continues to expand.
Rwanda officially adopted Kiswahili as one of its four national languages in 2017, alongside Kinyarwanda, English, and French. The government further cemented its commitment in 2023 by integrating Kiswahili more deeply into public administration, education, and regional cooperation efforts, a move aligned with its obligations as an EAC member state.
Scientists and international agencies warn that this crisis is part of a broader “new era of drought,” driven by climate change and posing escalating threats to food security, ecosystems, and national economies.
{{Scorching heat grips Europe
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Germany is experiencing what may be its hottest day of the year on Wednesday, with temperatures forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius, according to the German Weather Service, which has issued extreme heat warnings across much of the country and highlighted a rising risk of wildfires, especially in the southeast.
Similar conditions are unfolding across Central Europe. In the Czech Republic, the national meteorological institute warned of “very high temperatures” and increased fire danger, with some regions expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius.
Prague’s emergency services have already responded to multiple heat-related incidents, and a fire ban remains in effect.
Slovakia’s meteorological authority issued its highest-level red alert for 10 districts on Thursday, forecasting highs up to 38 degrees Celsius as warm air masses from the west intensify the heat.
Neighboring Croatia and Romania are also on alert, with peak temperatures expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees Celsius, respectively.
In the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute confirmed the country’s first official heatwave in three years. De Bilt, the national reference station, recorded five consecutive days above 30 degrees Celsius, prompting a code orange alert in the southeastern provinces.
Southern Europe is faring no better. Spain continues to endure a record-breaking heatwave, with June 2025 confirmed as the country’s hottest month on record.
The Spanish meteorological agency AEMET reported an average monthly temperature of 23.6 degrees Celsius, hotter than typical July and August averages. Tragically, two farmers died on Tuesday in a wildfire that scorched 5,000 hectares in La Segarra, northeast Spain.
In Slovenia, the Environment Agency (ARSO) noted that June 2025 was not only the hottest but also the driest month since records began, with rainfall just 24 percent of the monthly average.
Heatwaves continue in Croatia, where the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) forecast maximum temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and 39 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
Bosnia and Herzegovina issued an orange weather warning for July 3 and July 4, with temperatures expected to reach between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius. Meteorologist Bakir Krajinovic from the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute said that June 2025 was unprecedented in the country’s measurement history, with zero rainfall recorded at meteorological stations in cities such as Tuzla and Mostar.
{{Drought spreading, taking toll on economy
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These escalating conditions in Europe are part of a global pattern. A new report released Wednesday, Drought Hotspots Around the World 2023-2025, presents a stark picture. Jointly prepared by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), the report warns that drought has become one of the most widespread and damaging crises of our time.
“Drought was once primarily associated with rainfall and agriculture,” said Daniel Tsegai, program officer at UNCCD. “Today, it is a multi-sectoral, systemic shock. No sector, no part of the economy, and no country is immune to its impacts.”
The report notes that the frequency of global droughts increased by 30 percent between 2000 and 2019. Driven by climate change and rising demands for land and water, droughts now threaten food supplies, water availability, biodiversity, energy systems, and public health, all critical pillars of society.
Mark Svoboda, co-author and founding director of NDMC, described the situation as “a slow-moving global catastrophe, the worst I’ve ever seen.”
The economic toll is mounting rapidly. NDMC research cites an OECD estimate that the financial cost of drought today is at least double what it was in 2000, with further increases of up to 110 percent projected by 2035.
“Ripple effects can turn regional droughts into global economic shocks,” said co-author Cody Knutson. “No country is immune when critical water-dependent systems start to collapse.”
The report warns that drought is already costing some countries up to 10 percent of their GDP annually, and may soon disrupt energy grids, food supply chains, and entire ecosystems.
{{Action, global cooperation in urgent need
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The UNCCD urges countries to act immediately by investing in early warning systems, drought monitoring, and nature-based solutions such as watershed restoration. Building resilient infrastructure, including off-grid energy and alternative water technologies, is also crucial.
Tsegai emphasized that combating drought requires shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive, long-term planning. Addressing these interconnected threats demands coordinated action across sectors and governance levels, involving ministries, local communities, and national governments alike.
Although over 80 countries have developed national drought plans, the UNCCD warns that implementation remains a major gap. Without stronger execution and cooperation, experts caution the world could face increasingly severe and widespread drought-related crises.
The laws establishing these taxes published in the Official Gazette on May 29, 2025, are part of ongoing tax policy reforms aimed at enhancing domestic revenue collection.
When fully implemented, the measures are expected to generate an additional Frw174.1 billion in the 2025/2026 fiscal year and up to Frw353 billion by the 2029/2030 fiscal year.
{{Here are a few things you need to know:}}
{{1. Taxes on hybrid vehicles}}
Hybrid vehicles, which previously benefited from major exemptions since 2021, are now subject to different taxes, though these remain lower than those applied to fuel-powered vehicles.
The applicable taxes include 18 percent VAT, 5 percent withholding tax, and an excise duty based on the year of manufacture. However, Hybrid vehicles still enjoy the 25 percent import duty exemption.
Under the new excise law, vehicles with an engine capacity of less than 1500cc, as well as hybrid vehicles that are under three years old, are subject to a tax rate of 5 percent.
Vehicles with engine capacity between 1500cc and 2500cc or hybrids aged three to eight years, are taxed at 10 percent. Vehicles with engine capacity above 2500cc or hybrids older than eight years are taxed at 15 percent.
Certain vehicles are exempt from excise tax. These include minibuses and buses with a capacity of more than 14 passengers, trucks and single-cabin pickups used for transporting goods, refrigerated vehicles, tourism vehicles, ambulances, and vehicles for persons with disabilities.
Electric vehicles, their batteries, and charging equipment remain VAT-exempt until 30 June 2028.
{{2. VAT on transport of goods}}
Land transportation of goods, which was previously exempt, is now subject to 18 percent VAT starting 1 July. International transport services, however, remain zero-rated.
Entities required to charge VAT include VAT-registered taxpayers, voluntary registrants, and businesses with a turnover of Frw 5 million over three months or Frw20 million annually.
Transport services that remain VAT-exempt, when provided by licensed operators, include land transport of passengers in vehicles with a capacity of 14 or more, air passenger transport, transport by boat for passengers or cargo, and the collection and transportation of household solid waste.
{{3. Tourism tax on accommodation}}
Law Nº 015/2025 of 27/05/2025 introduces a 3 percent tourism tax on accommodation, defined as a service that provides a room or place to sleep or rest.
Accommodation providers are required to register for the tax with the Tax Administration. The tax becomes due upon receipt of payment and must be declared and paid within 15 days following the end of each declaration month.
Providers are also required to use the Electronic Invoicing System (EBM) to comply with tax regulations and ensure accurate reporting and declaration.
{{4. Environmental levy}}
Law Nº 010/2025 of 27/05/2025 establishes a 0.2 percent environmental levy on imported items packaged in plastic materials, calculated based on their customs value.
The law identifies nine categories of items subject to the levy. These include bottled water; all types of juice, energy drinks and carbonated non-alcoholic beverages; peanut butter, honey and related products; body lotions, petroleum jelly and shampoos; mattresses; clothes; shoes; all types of soaps; and toilet paper.
{{5. Motor-vehicle road maintenance levy}}
Under Law Nº 013/2025 of 27/05/2025 establishing a levy on petrol, gas oil, and motor vehicles for road maintenance, owners of locally registered motor vehicles can now declare and pay the levy according to the following vehicle categories:
-* Car and Jeep: Frw50,000
-* Pick-up, microbus, minibus, bus: Frw100,000
-* Truck and half-trailer: Frw120,000
-* Trailer: Frw150,000
The levy on motor vehicles for road maintenance is declared and paid annually to the tax administration not later than December 31 of each year.
In recent weeks, the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has actively engaged with various sectors to clarify the new changes, ensuring that stakeholders understand their responsibilities and the procedures for declaration and payment.
Many have expressed optimism following these consultations, which were designed to ensure effective implementation and compliance.
The report, which concluded its investigation on April 20, alleged the presence of Rwandan troops in areas controlled by the AFC/M23 coalition and accused Rwanda of illegally extracting 3T minerals (Tungsten, Tantalum, and Tin) from the region.
In a statement shared on July 2, Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, dismissed these allegations as false while reaffirming Rwanda’s commitment to a newly signed US-brokered Peace Agreement aimed at stabilizing the region.
The UN report claimed that Rwandan troops were operating in AFC/M23-controlled areas, with thousands more positioned at the DRC border, preparing to enter.
Rwanda has consistently denied any military presence in eastern DRC.
Addressing the report’s findings, Makolo criticized its portrayal of Rwanda’s security measures, stating, “The report confirms DRC state support for the FDLR genocidal militia and the Congolese army’s reliance on the FDLR as a frontline fighting force, but then deliberately misrepresents Rwanda’s longstanding security concerns related to the persistent threat of the FDLR and its affiliated groups, which necessitates the defence posture in our border areas.”
Makolo also highlighted Rwanda’s commitment to the US-brokered Peace Agreement signed last Friday, which she described as a pivotal step toward resolving regional tensions.
“Following the signing of the US-brokered Peace Agreement last Friday, Rwanda is fully committed to its implementation, including the neutralization of the FDLR, which will enable the lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures, the safe return of refugees to their home areas, and much-needed stability in our region,” she stated.
The agreement is expected to address the FDLR threat, paving the way for improved security and the return of displaced populations.
On the allegations of illegal 3T mineral extraction, Makolo categorically rejected the claims, underscoring Rwanda’s regulated mining sector.
“Rwanda has its own 3T critical mineral reserves and unlike eastern DRC whose mining sector is mostly artisanal and characterized by predatory exploitation by armed groups and corrupt DRC officials, Rwanda operates a regulated and formalized mining sector, with investment in mineral processing and other infrastructure that allows for commercial refining of minerals and appropriate certification,” she said.
Makolo also pointed to the economic potential of the Peace Agreement, noting that it “will ultimately present opportunities for economic cooperation, with US private investment in the region to further formalize the mining sectors and allow for improved standards and revenue/tax collection by the respective governments.”
