On June 27, 2025, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed an agreement to restore peace in the Great Lakes region, with facilitation from the United States.
The accord calls for the dismantling of the FDLR and the removal of Rwanda’s defensive measures at the border, both to be completed within 90 days.
However, BBC Gahuza (the Kinyarwanda-language service of the BBC) published an article titled “What the FDLR Says About the Washington Deal Calling for Its Elimination,” which included a summary of an open letter from FDLR leader Lt Gen Byiringiro Victor addressed to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Minister Nduhungirehe responded sharply, stating that the BBC was providing an inappropriate platform to a group designated for dismantling by multiple international actors. He emphasized that the media must not normalize or sanitize groups responsible for past atrocities.
“It is unacceptable that this British Broadcasting Corporation continues to whitewash, sanitize, and promote the FDLR, a genocidal force that the DRC, Rwanda, the US and the larger international community have committed to neutralize,” he shared on X.
The Rwandan government has long identified the FDLR as a direct threat to national security. For years, the group has attempted to destabilize Rwanda, launching several attacks from across the border, particularly in the northwestern region.
FDLR incursions in March, May, and June 2022 were among the reasons Rwanda reinforced its border security measures. These measures, now set to be lifted under the new agreement, were implemented to prevent further cross-border threats.
Marking 31 years since Rwanda’s Liberation, this year’s convention served as both a moment of remembrance and a platform for vision. Attendees from across the United States and beyond gathered to reflect on Rwanda’s transformation, and to explore how they, too, could continue to contribute to building what comes next.
Bank of Kigali used the convention platform to launch BK Capital USD Fixed Income Fund, a solution tailored specifically for the Rwandan diaspora and international investors. Offering annual returns of 5–6%, the fund presents a secure, transparent path to invest in Rwanda’s future while meeting global financial standards. Investors can invest from $2,000, withdraw at any time, borrow against it, or even use it as collateral. The fund is certified by Rwanda’s Capital Market Authority.
Bank of Kigali also showcased its diaspora mortgage offerings, designed to make property ownership in Rwanda faster and more accessible. Whether building a family home in Kigali or purchasing an apartment in Rubavu, BK provides financing and expert advisory services to make ownership back home a reality.
For diaspora clients, BK’s foreign currency accounts, available in RWF, USD, GBP, EUR, CHF, and CAD, come with zero maintenance fees, and free incoming international transfers. Customers can open and manage their accounts entirely online, through the BK Mobile App or Internet Banking, from anywhere in the world.
“Our goal is simple: to empower the diaspora with real tools to invest meaningfully back home,” said Desire Rumanyika, Chief Digital and Retail Officer at Bank of Kigali. “Bank of Kigali is more than a bridge, it’s your trusted partner in turning belief into action, and action into impact, as we work together to realize Rwanda’s Vision 2050.”
BK Foundation was also present at the convention to engage the Rwandan diaspora on the work being done across its three core pillars: Education, Empowerment, and Environmental Conservation. By supporting BK Foundation, members of the diaspora can actively contribute to its philanthropic mission and play a part in social transformation in Rwanda.
Bank of Kigali continues to develop solutions that align with the aspirations of Rwandans, both at home and abroad. The bank emphasizes that the time to act is now. Through the Shora I Rwanda with Bank of Kigali initiative, the lender invites individuals to be part of a legacy that will endure for generations.
In a televised interview with state-run IRIB TV, Ohadi said the number could further rise given the seriously injured and the unidentified bodies.
Israel launched a series of major airstrikes on June 13 targeting nuclear and military sites across Iran, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians, and injuring many others, according to Iranian authorities.
Iran retaliated with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, causing casualties and damage.
A ceasefire between the two countries was reached on June 24, ending 12 days of fighting.
“I’m saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks,” Trump posted on social media Sunday night.
He was referring to Musk’s threats to form a third political party to rival Democrats and Republicans.
The president called that idea “ridiculous,” adding that it would cause confusion.
The feud between the two billionaires began in early June after Musk blasted Trump’s landmark One Big Beautiful Bill, a gargantuan tax and spending package that Trump signed into law on Friday, the Independence Day.
Musk lambasted the legislation, saying it could add trillions of U.S. dollars to the national debt.
“Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom,” Musk said on social media.
In response, Trump posted on social media that third parties “have never succeeded in the United States,” adding that “the one thing (they) are good for is the creation of Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS.”
Musk’s announcement caused shares of his company Tesla to take a dive. On Monday, the stock saw its largest single-day loss since June 5.
Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College in the northeastern state of New Hampshire, told Xinhua: “Right now, Republicans have narrow margins in both chambers of Congress. If Musk were to fund primary challengers or independent general election candidates… that could cost Republicans in next year’s midterms.”
“Building a real party, rather than a vanity project, would involve finding and running credible candidates up and down the ballot, for unglamorous offices like school board and city council,” Galdieri said.
Clay Ramsay, a researcher at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, told Xinhua: “Things like this have been tried not very long ago… The problem is that a political party needs a core idea.”
“This venture would have to attract people younger than 45 who are already politicians on some level, and who have real political talent,” Ramsay said.
“If Musk were to just concentrate on knocking out specific Republican senators and members, that would be a slightly better plan than starting a new political party,” Ramsay added.
Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua: “There are lots of people who would like choices between the two major parties. Each has moved to the extremes and does not represent the broad swathe of America.”
“He needs to find someone to lead the party who could appeal to more people,” West said.
Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister for Development and International Organizations Affairs, represented the Government of the United Arab Emirates at the event, which brought together over 250 members of the diplomatic corps, friends of Rwanda, and Rwandan community members in the UAE.
In his address, Ambassador John Mirenge reflected on Rwanda’s historic liberation on 4 July 1994, when the Rwanda Patriotic Army, under the leadership of President Paul Kagame, brought an end to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This day, Amb. Mirenge noted, marks Rwanda’s emergence from one of the darkest chapters in human history into a new era defined by resilience, unity, and national renewal.
“Rwanda’s Liberation was anchored in a just cause: to restore dignity, promote unity, and build a nation where every citizen should belong and be proud to identify with,” Amb. Mirenge said.
He went on to emphasize that Rwanda’s Liberation was not only a military triumph but also a moral stand—a fight to free Rwandans from decades of exclusion, oppression, and division rooted in colonial rule and perpetuated by post-independence regimes.
Today, Rwanda stands as a testament to resilience, renewal, and purpose. Over the past three decades, the country has rebuilt itself on three foundational pillars: unity, accountability, and ambition. This bold and forward-looking mindset, the Ambassador explained, has guided Rwanda’s transformation, enabling it to secure lasting peace, drive sustained economic growth, and promote inclusive development.
{{Rwanda-UAE relations highlighted}}
The celebration also spotlighted the deepening bilateral ties between Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates.
“The UAE remains Rwanda’s largest trading partner abroad, accounting for 63.9% of our exports in 2024. Bilateral trade exceeded USD 1.5 billion, while cumulative UAE investments in Rwanda surpassed USD 320 million,” the Ambassador noted.
Amb. Mirenge further used the occasion to call on investors and partners from the UAE to continue seizing opportunities in Rwanda’s dynamic and inclusive economy.
“As we look ahead, we invite more investors, innovators, and partners from the UAE and beyond to join hands with Rwanda as we accelerate our shared vision for inclusive and sustainable growth. The potential is vast, and the partnership has never been stronger,” he urged.
The evening concluded with vibrant traditional performances by the UAE-based Uruyange and Abadahigwa cultural troupes, celebrating Rwanda’s cultural richness.
For decades, attempts to shield the FDLR terrorist group from accountability have persisted. Even former DRC President Laurent-Désiré Kabila once promised to help the group overthrow the Rwandan government, hiding their presence from the international community.
But his efforts proved futile. The same strategy appears to be repeating itself today, with senior Congolese officials, such as the Minister of Foreign Trade and former North Kivu governor Julien Paluku, continuing to claim the group no longer exists.
Yet conflicting narratives from within the Congolese leadership undermine that stance. While some officials argue the FDLR is no longer active, others acknowledge its role in the violence plaguing eastern DRC.
Former Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula often dismissed the group as a myth invented by Rwanda. However, in March 2024, he also admitted the government lacked information on the FDLR’s whereabouts, suggesting if any country had intelligence on their location, it should come forward to help eliminate them.
President Félix Tshisekedi, meanwhile, conceded that the FDLR still operates but downplayed its strength, calling it a group of elderly fighters with limited numbers. However, the spokesperson of the Congolese army, Maj Gen Sylvain Ekenge, contradicted this narrative in April 2024 by openly blaming the FDLR for much of the violence that has claimed millions of lives in eastern Congo over the past three decades.
Despite official denial, the FDLR itself has publicly acknowledged its presence in eastern DRC through statements signed by its leadership, including Lt Gen Victor Byiringiro and spokesperson Cure Ngoma. The group frames itself as a movement of Rwandan refugees seeking political rights, while rejecting accusations of violence. In early 2025, after the UN Security Council voted to disband the FDLR, the group criticized the resolution, portraying it as biased and a potential pretext for regional military intervention.
Rwanda has taken a firm stance on the matter. After welcoming thousands of returning refugees from DRC, it revoked refugee status. Many returned, except those suspected of links with the FDLR. The Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, recently stated that no negotiations with the FDLR are possible, citing their role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Evidence of military cooperation between the DRC government and the FDLR has surfaced on multiple occasions, especially during the Congolese army’s struggles against the M23 rebel group.
Reports indicate that the FDLR received weapons, supplies, and financial support from the Congolese military. In one instance, an injured member of the FDLR’s elite unit, CRAP, was seen receiving medical treatment in Kinshasa after a clash with M23 fighters.
In November 2023, amid growing international pressure, then-Chief of the Congolese Armed Forces, Gen Christian Tshiwewe, ordered all units to cease collaboration with the FDLR. Yet, this directive had little effect, as reports later confirmed deeper cooperation between the two forces.
M23 offensives further exposed the reality on the ground. As the rebel group advanced across North Kivu, it captured dozens of FDLR fighters, including senior commanders such as Secretary General Brig Gen Ezechiel Gakwerere and Maj Gilbert Ndayambaje.
These combatants were later handed over to Rwanda. Many of those captured wore Congolese army uniforms and revealed their involvement in front-line operations against the M23, underscoring their integration into the national army’s ranks.
Over the past two decades, the UN Security Council has passed 20 resolutions affirming that the FDLR poses a serious threat to peace in the Great Lakes region and must be dismantled. A May 2025 report by UN experts confirmed that the group continues to operate in coordination with the Congolese military, effectively functioning as part of its command structure.
On June 27, 2025, Rwanda and the DRC, with support from the United States, signed a peace agreement. One of its key provisions calls for the dismantling of the FDLR within 90 days, alongside the removal of Rwanda’s security measures on its border.
Rwanda’s military spokesperson, Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, recently estimated the FDLR to have between 7,000 and 10,000 fighters, many of whom blend into civilian populations when under attack.
Despite years of denial and obfuscation, the DRC’s effort to hide the FDLR has been undone by evidence, testimonies, international reports, and the group’s own admissions.
The borders in question include the Grande Barrière (also known as “La Corniche”), Petite Barrière, which connect Rwanda with the DRC. These borders now open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 10:00 p.m.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 50,000 people crossed three official borders daily, with the Grande Barrière operating 24 hours a day.
Rubavu District Mayor, Mulindwa Prosper, told IGIHE that the number of people using the Rubavu–DRC border crossings has reached 43,000.
“The number of users at the Grande Barrière and Petite Barrière has increased to 43,000, not counting those who use the Kabuhanga border,” he said.
Residents working at the Gisenyi cross-border market told IGIHE that they now rely on trust-based trade, as many Congolese clients lack cash.
They cited reasons including the shut down of banks in Goma by the Tshisekedi administration, making it difficult for citizens to access their savings.
Sifa, a Congolese resident of Ndosho in Nyiragongo Territory, said that most products coming from Rwanda to her area are fruits and vegetables. She also confirmed that their current trade depends heavily on mutual trust.
“Banks are closed, so we’re using the little money we had at home or we take goods on credit based on trust. We go, sell them, and return to pay later,” she said.
Sifa added that reopening banks would give them access to much-needed capital.
The AFC/M23 rebel group began controlling the border posts between Rwanda and the DRC on the side of Goma in January 2025.
In her remarks, she reflected on the country’s journey since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, describing Liberation Day celebrated on July 4, as a turning point that ushered in a new era of unity, dignity, and national renewal.
She underscored the decisive role played by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR), under the leadership of President Paul Kagame, in ending the genocide and laying the foundation for Rwanda’s rebirth. Munyangaju reminded attendees that liberation was not a one-time event, but the beginning of a long process of reconciliation, resilience, and nation-building.
Since then, Rwanda has made significant strides, emerging as one of the most stable and forward-looking countries on the continent. The Ambassador noted that the country had established itself as an international financial hub, attracting partnerships and investments while advancing in areas such as business, education, logistics, and innovation, particularly in health and digital technologies.
She also pointed to Rwanda’s growing international presence, highlighting major upcoming events such as the 2025 UCI World Cycling Championships, which Rwanda was set to host in September, the first time an African country would organize the event since its inception in 1921.
In addition, Munyangaju spoke about Kwita Izina, the annual baby gorilla naming ceremony, describing it as a powerful symbol of Rwanda’s commitment to environmental conservation. The event, she noted, had become a global platform that attracted scientists, artists, and policymakers in support of biodiversity protection.
As the country marked 31 years since its liberation, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of safeguarding Rwanda’s achievements and passing on a legacy of peace and unity to future generations.
She also expressed gratitude to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for its continued support, underlining the value of solidarity and international cooperation.
The ceremony concluded on a hopeful note, with a collective call to continue building a modern, inclusive Rwanda rooted in the principles of reconciliation and shared national identity.
Speaking at the Rwanda Convention 2025 in Texas, USA, running from July 4 to 6, he highlighted the significance of the deal, which aims to address longstanding tensions in the Great Lakes region.
The convention, resuming after a six-year hiatus, brought together hundreds of Rwandans from the diaspora and guests from Rwanda to celebrate culture, unity, and national development.
The peace agreement, brokered in Washington with U.S. support, is comprehensive, covering political, security, economic, and humanitarian aspects.
“We are optimistic because those three aspects are taken care of.
However, we are cautiously optimistic because we have an experience with the DRC of signing agreements without implementing them,” he noted.
Minister Nduhungirehe emphasized that Rwanda’s security concerns, particularly the threat posed by the FDLR, a genocidal force, are central to the agreement.
“We have decided together to ensure that this movement, this FDLR, is neutralized once and for all, which will allow Rwanda to lift its defensive measures,” he stated.
On the economic front, the agreement fosters joint investments between Rwanda and the DRC, supported by U.S. companies.
“This kind of positive collaboration would be a good incentive for permanent peace and prosperity in our region,” Nduhungirehe noted.
Politically, the agreement supports dialogue between the DRC government and the M23 movement, addressing root causes of conflict such as the persecution and marginalization of Congolese Tutsi communities.
Ongoing talks in Doha, Qatar, mediated by Qatar, mark progress, as the DRC has now agreed to engage with M23, a commitment absent in prior failed agreements.
However, Nduhungirehe tempered optimism with caution, citing the DRC’s history of signing but not implementing agreements.
Since the 1999 Lusaka ceasefire, at least 10 agreements, including the 2009 Goma accord that gave M23 its name, have gone unimplemented.
He also raised concerns about DRC’s militarization, including new weapons, attack drones, armored vehicles, and mercenaries, such as Colombian operatives hired by Blackwater during Washington negotiations.
“We know that the DRC has not implemented previous agreements… Rwanda will do its part of the deal, and we hope that the DRC will also follow through,” he said.
Addressing differences from past efforts, Nduhungirehe noted that the current agreement builds on the Luanda Process, mediated by Angola’s President Joao Lourenço in 2024, which collapsed due to the DRC’s refusal to negotiate with M23.
The inclusion of economic cooperation and U.S. support distinguishes this deal. He also responded to critics of the Trump administration, which facilitated the agreement, saying, “So what? Having interests in the region is not a problem, provided they are interested in helping Rwanda and DRC achieve peace and stability.”
