Early March 2026, the United States imposed sanctions on members of the Rwanda Defence Force and some of its senior officials, accusing them of destabilising the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo through alleged support for the AFC/M23 rebel coalition.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied supporting AFC/M23 or playing any role in destabilising DR Congo. Kigali has instead accused the government in Kinshasa of threatening Rwanda’s security by supporting the FDLR terrorist group responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The Congolese government welcomed the U.S. sanctions and called on other countries, particularly members of the European Union, to take similar measures against Rwanda.
Speaking in an interview with Radio France Internationale, France 24 and TV5Monde on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, the French head of state was asked about the absence of European or French sanctions against Kigali.
He responded that supporting peace negotiations should be optimal.
“If today everyone rushes toward sanctions because the Americans have done so and isolates Rwanda, there is little chance of convincing Rwanda to adopt a cooperative policy. I believe more in the value of dialogue with the two main leaders,” Macron said.
Macron also stressed that while the Congolese government should regain control of territories lost in the east, it also has a responsibility to dismantle the FDLR, which he said poses a threat to Rwanda’s security.
He further suggested that countries in the region should work together in combating armed and terrorist groups that continue to destabilise neighbouring states.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Macron, and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi attended the Africa Forward Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 12, 2026.
Asked whether he had met Kagame and Tshisekedi to discuss tensions between Rwanda and DR Congo, Macron said he met them separately because bringing the two leaders together remains difficult.
He emphasised the need for direct talks involving both Kagame and Tshisekedi, alongside key mediators, saying that this remains France’s top priority.
A journalist also asked Macron whether he believed the United States was favouring one side in the conflict. Macron replied that Washington appears focused on achieving peace and that he did not consider its mediation efforts biased.
In June 2025, Rwanda and DR Congo signed a peace agreement, followed in December by another accord that included provisions for regional economic cooperation. However, tangible results from those agreements have yet to emerge.
Macron argued that all parties involved should exercise caution in handling the regional crisis, insisting that sanctions alone are unlikely to bring peace. Instead, he said efforts should focus on easing tensions and encouraging Rwanda and DR Congo to return to negotiations with the support of mediators.
The French president also noted that addressing the wider regional security crisis would require the involvement of neighbouring countries, including Uganda and Burundi, in the peace talks.
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