Speaking in a recent interview with France 24, Nduhungirehe defended Rwanda’s position on the peace agreement signed in June last year, which was later formalised in Washington by President Paul Kagame and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, with the involvement of U.S. mediation.

The agreement was built on two key pillars: the neutralisation of the FDLR militia group and the lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures. However, Nduhungirehe argued that its implementation has stalled primarily due to a lack of political will from Kinshasa.

“The main issue is the political will by the government in Kinshasa to cease fire,” Nduhungirehe said, adding that drone attacks had intensified after the signing of the agreement.

He further accused the Congolese side of failing to take action against the FDLR, instead citing continued collaboration with the group.

Nduhungirehe noted that while U.S. officials have acknowledged partial progress by Rwanda, he said Washington has overlooked the DRC’s failure to meet its commitments under the deal.

“So for us, we are disappointed by the increasingly biased U.S. mediation,” he said, stressing that peace agreements require both parties to implement their obligations simultaneously.

He questioned why sanctions had been imposed only on Rwanda, including recent measures targeting Rwanda’s Gasabo Oil Refinery and the Rwanda Defence Forces, while similar action had not been taken against the DRC.

According to the minister, sanctions risk undermining the mediation process.

“Those sanctions are unfair, one-sided and counter-productive,” he stated, warning that pressure on one party could embolden the other and worsen insecurity.

He also rejected suggestions that Rwanda had been given a unilateral deadline to withdraw its troops from eastern DRC by mid July, insisting that implementation of the agreement depends on reciprocal action, particularly a ceasefire and the neutralisation of the FDLR genocidal force linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

“You cannot have peace with only one party implementing its part of the deal,” he said.

On recent legal action, Nduhungirehe dismissed a case filed by the DRC at the International Court of Justice accusing Rwanda of a “genocidal campaign,” calling it a political manoeuvre. He reiterated Rwanda’s position that the case lacks merit and argued that Kinshasa has failed to fulfil its own commitments under regional peace efforts.

The minister concluded by reaffirming Rwanda’s commitment to a negotiated solution, saying Kigali remains ready to implement its obligations under the Washington accord, provided that all parties do the same in good faith.