Rwanda has firmly dismissed allegations by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that its defence forces were involved in the deaths of more than 300 civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a statement issued on 11 August 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation described the claims as “false accusations” devoid of evidence, corroboration, or credible investigative methodology.
The OHCHR report, published on 6 August, alleged that between 9 and 21 July, M23 rebels, reportedly aided by elements of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), killed 319 civilians across four villages in North Kivu’s Rutshuru territory.
Rwanda has denied any role in the attacks, insisting that its name was wrongly dragged into the narrative.
“OHCHR alleges, without any evidence, corroboration or reported motives, that the Rwanda Defence Force ‘aided’ in the killing of ‘319 civilians’ in farms in eastern DRC. The gratuitous inclusion of the RDF in these allegations is unacceptable and brings into question the credibility of OHCHR and its methodology,” the statement read.
Kigali’s sharp response warned that such accusations risk derailing fragile regional peace efforts. Officials argued that sensational, unverified claims undermine ongoing initiatives to resolve the crisis in eastern DRC through dialogue and security cooperation.
The Ministry also criticized the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, for what it described as chronic failure to protect civilians despite decades of deployment in the region.
“In a context where the United Nations (MONUSCO) has long failed to protect civilians affected by insecurity, OHCHR’s sensational allegations risk undermining the ongoing processes for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the DRC,” the ministry noted.
These remarks build on points Rwanda’s Foreign Minister has repeatedly made at international forums.
In Geneva earlier this year, he stressed that the roots of the DRC’s unrest are not in Kigali, but in the continued presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia group linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
The minister underscored that Rwanda’s defensive posture along its western border will remain in place until a credible and enforceable security arrangement is established.
The allegations come at a sensitive time. Just weeks before the reported killings, Rwanda and the DRC had agreed on a set of principles aimed at easing tensions, including a commitment by Kinshasa to take concrete action against the FDLR.
However, mistrust between the two neighbours remains deep, with Kinshasa continuing to accuse Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels, charges Kigali consistently denies.
As violence escalates in North and South Kivu, the dispute over the OHCHR report has widened the rift between Kigali and UN institutions.
For Rwanda, the priority is to challenge what it views as unfounded narratives while reinforcing its stance that peace in the region hinges on dismantling the FDLR and addressing the root causes of instability.
