In a post published on X, Destexhe criticised recent U.S. sanctions imposed on Rwanda’s military and defended Kigali’s position in the ongoing eastern Congo conflict.
“It is the DRC (Congo) that should be sanctioned, not Rwanda,” he wrote. “The DRC ignited this conflict by persecuting Congolese Tutsis.”
Destexhe accused Kinshasa of failing to uphold its commitments under international agreements, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 2773, and of maintaining ties with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who fled to the DRC. He further pointed out that the Congolese government finances extremist Wazalendo militias and collaborates with foreign mercenaries.
According to Destexhe, ongoing bombings in Minembwe and drone strikes in eastern Congo demonstrate what he described as indiscriminate attacks affecting civilians. He argued that the ultimate objective of Kinshasa’s military posture appears to be confrontation with Rwanda.
His comments come days after the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) as an institution and four senior military officials, including Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Mubarakh Muganga and other top commanders. Washington accused Rwanda of backing the AFC/M23 rebel coalition operating in eastern Congo, allegations Kigali has consistently denied.
The Rwandan government expressed regret over the March 2, 2026, sanctions, calling them “unjust” and “one-sided.” In a statement, Kigali said the measures misrepresent the conflict and unfairly target only one party to the peace process.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed the Washington Accords in Washington, D.C., on December 4, 2025, aimed at restoring stability in eastern Congo. Under the agreement, Kinshasa committed to an irreversible and verifiable end to state support for the FDLR. However, the militia group remains active in the region despite the commitments outlined in the agreement.
Rwanda maintains that its actions along the border are defensive measures prompted by repeated attacks, including cross-border incidents.
In his post, Destexhe sharply criticised Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, alleging corruption and mismanagement, and arguing that the Congolese military is incapable of securing a decisive victory against M23. He urged U.S. policymakers to reconsider their approach.
“Wake up, America!” he stated.
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