Speaking in an interview with Firstpost, Amb. Nduhungirehe said the roots of Rwanda’s security concerns date back to the aftermath of the genocide, when forces responsible for the killings crossed into the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“In 1994 in Rwanda, we had a genocide against the Tutsi. Over one million people were killed over three months,” he said, noting that the perpetrators later fled across the border. “Those who committed that genocide crossed the border. They were never disarmed by the UN or other forces that were on the ground.”
He said the group that later became the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda has continued to operate from eastern Congo and has launched attacks on Rwanda over the past three decades.
“From DRC, they have been attacking Rwanda over the past 30 years on countless occasions,” Amb. Nduhungirehe said, adding that Rwanda has therefore deployed defensive measures along its border to prevent further attacks.
The minister also warned that genocide ideology remains a concern in the region. “When we hear the same words that were used before the genocide… we take it very seriously,” he said, stressing that what happened in 1994 should never happen again.
He further argued that ongoing hostilities on the ground, including increased air strikes and drone attacks in eastern Congo, risk undermining ceasefire commitments linked to ongoing peace initiatives.
Despite these challenges, Amb. Nduhungirehe said Rwanda remains engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict while ensuring the country’s security and preventing a repeat of the dark moments of 1994.
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