Dr. Nsengiyumva made the remarks on October 29, 2026, while addressing the plenary session of the Third Russia-Africa Summit at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, where he joined other African Heads of State and Government to discuss the Russia-Africa partnership and areas of cooperation.
He said Rwanda’s history of insecurity had shaped its approach to national defence, stressing that the country could not afford to overlook threats to its sovereignty.
“As you know, Rwanda is a country that suffered, even more than anyone else, the lack of security. That experience has taught us that we should never be complacent about or compromise the security of Rwanda,” he said.
The Prime Minister identified the FDLR as an existential threat, alleging that the group continues to receive support from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“Unfortunately, as we speak today, Rwanda is facing an existential threat from the FDLR genocidal force, which is the force that committed the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Unfortunately, this force is still enjoying State support in DRC,” he said.
Dr. Nsengiyumva said addressing the FDLR threat, as stipulated in the Washington Accords, was essential to achieving peace and security in the Great Lakes region.
He also called for action against hate speech and the persecution of Rwandophones in eastern DRC, saying these were necessary to ensure the effective protection of civilians.
“In the same vein, fight against hate speech and the persecution that dehumanizes the Rwandophone community in eastern DRC is critical for effective protection of civilians,” he said.
The Prime Minister further argued that security measures alone would not resolve the conflict, calling for attention to the political issues underlying the instability in eastern DRC.
“Importantly, political causes of this conflict must be addressed in order for us to achieve sustainable peace,” he said.
Dr. Nsengiyumva also reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to initiatives aimed at addressing security challenges in the region.
“Rwanda is in full compliance with the Washington Accords and the African Union-led initiatives, to comprehensively address the security challenges in our region. This will enable economic development and joint investments in the abundant resources that our region possesses,” he said.
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