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Congo coalition forces, including FDLR, planned to attack Rwanda, reveals government

By IGIHE
On 2 February 2025 at 11:18

The Government of Rwanda has disclosed that a coalition of forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the FDLR, Burundian military, SADC troops, and European mercenaries, had plans to launch an attack on Rwanda.

In a statement on Sunday, February 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation revealed that documentary evidence uncovered after the M23 seized the city of Goma earlier this week pointed to broader plans to launch an offensive against Rwanda, beyond simply neutralizing the M23 group.

"Recent information coming from Goma on what has been discovered, and the documentary evidence of attack preparations, planned together with the foreign forces fighting in eastern DRC, including the FDLR, indicate that combat objectives were not limited to defeating M23 rebel group, but also attacking Rwanda," the statement reads in part.

The FDLR comprises remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, who still pose a threat to Rwanda’s security along the border with DRC.

The ministry made the revelation while distancing the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) from accusations made against the force during the Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on January 31, 2025, which had accused Rwanda’s military of colluding with the M23.

Rwanda emphasized that the RDF’s primary mission is to defend the country’s sovereignty, protect civilians, and safeguard its borders, and not to attack civilians in other countries.

Rwanda also criticized the presence of SADC forces (SAMIDRC) in the DRC, arguing that their involvement was unjustified, as they were fighting against the citizens of the DRC and effectively escalating the conflict.

"It is clear that SAMIDRC together with coalition partners that include the Burundian armed forces, the FDLR and European mercenaries are central to the conflict, and should not be there because they are adding to the problems that already existed," the statement adds.

At the same time, the government reiterated its long-standing call for a political solution to the crisis and expressed support for the proposed joint summit between the East African Community (EAC) and SADC to discuss a peaceful resolution.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe has previously maintained that constant threats from the Congolese administration to invade Rwanda, along with growing tensions in the eastern region, have prompted the government to bolster its border defences.

The M23 rebel group is fighting against the systematic persecution of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese in the region, a situation that has persisted for decades.

In a statement released on Saturday, the group reiterated its openness to dialogue with President Félix Tshisekedi’s government to address the root causes of the conflict in eastern Congo.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe has previously maintained that constant threats from the Congolese administration to invade Rwanda, along with growing tensions in the eastern region, have prompted the government to bolster its border defences.

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