The diplomatic track aimed at easing tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has entered one of its most consequential moments in years, according to President Paul Kagame.
He says that the Washington-led process is moving in the right direction despite persistent setbacks.
In a detailed briefing on November 27, Kagame described a delicate but promising shift after a long period marked by unproductive shuttle diplomacy, repeated accusations, and stalled negotiations that failed to produce substance.
The President welcomed the possibility of meeting his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi, in Washington, calling it a meaningful step, yet one that will count only if regional actors finally demonstrate the political will necessary to resolve a crisis rooted in decades of mismanagement, insecurity and denial.
The effort gained structure earlier in the year when Rwanda and the DRC signed a U.S.-brokered agreement on June 27, 2025, focusing primarily on neutralizing the FDLR, a genocidal militia formed by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The accord was intended to pave the way for follow-up cooperation in security and eventually economic development.
Kagame noted that it was the first time in many years that both countries had engaged in a process backed by a powerful mediator capable of steering negotiations past old bottlenecks. Yet he cautioned that even the strongest mediator cannot impose peace where key leaders lack conviction.
The Head of State recalled years in which foreign envoys moved hurriedly between Kigali, Kinshasa, and the UN Security Council, generating reports and resolutions that rarely translated into progress.
“We have had people visit Rwanda and DRC and rush to the UN Security Council and make announcements and pass resolutions. That’s why in the first years we spent a lot of time on that without having anything tangible in place,” he said.
The Washington framework, he added, is a departure from this cycle, offering a structure that could, if respected, finally lead to lasting stability.
However, Kagame pushed back firmly against suggestions that Kigali has obstructed progress, saying Rwanda has fulfilled every obligation and has been waiting for Kinshasa to confirm the next round of meetings.
“What is delaying, I can assure you, has nothing… does not come from or relate to Rwanda. Nothing originates from Rwanda,” he said.
Delegations from both countries have already spent considerable time in Washington laying the groundwork, yet the next phase remains on hold.
The President described a recurring pattern in which Congolese representatives agree to positions during negotiations abroad, only to reverse themselves shortly after. He cited instances where officials publicly contradicted commitments made just hours earlier.
“People… discuss, they near agreeing something, or sometimes they agree something, and then the next day somebody is just in the open saying, ‘No, I want to do this,’” he said.
Kagame said such contradictory statements have repeatedly derailed timelines: “They sign… and then after that, the next day, whether still in Washington or back home, they say, ‘We are not going to do this until…’ They set different conditions other than what was actually done and agreed.”
He added, with a touch of frustration, that the sudden reversals border on the unpredictable. “I’m not sure whether tomorrow somebody doesn’t say, ‘For me, I’m not going to Washington’ because either last night he dreamt, or was told by a priest… that it’s a bad omen,” he said.
Despite the uncertainty, Kagame maintained that Rwanda remains ready for the next meeting, possibly in early December, though even that depends on whether the DRC confirms its participation.
“For us, we’ve been here waiting,” he said, underscoring that Rwanda’s objective is not merely to appear cooperative but to support a process capable of producing a real, durable settlement.
He also criticized repeated calls from Congolese officials for sanctions against Rwanda, describing them as political theatrics that fail to address the underlying crisis.
Kagame further questioned how sanctions could restore citizenship rights long denied to Congolese communities, curb the reliance on mercenaries, or dismantle the militias operating across the Kivus.
These, he implied, are structural issues that only the DRC can fix through political responsibility and institutional reform. Even with these challenges, Kagame said he is prepared to play his part and remains cautiously optimistic.
The Washington initiative has created an opening that did not exist for many years, and the President believes that if regional leaders finally choose responsibility, it can lead to the stability both countries need.
