Makolo’s remarks were in response to a viral video of Congolese Justice Minister Constant Mutamba, who was captured inciting inmates at Munzenze Prison in Goma against Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese Tutsis, whom he referred to as “Banyarwanda.”

In the shocking video, the minister called for violent actions against the Rwandan Head of State and those associated with Rwanda. He was also heard promising to free prisoners who help identify “traitors” and “foreigners,” who would then be "arrested and killed."

Makolo termed the minister’s violent rhetoric a reflection of the constant tensions Rwanda has to deal with daily.

“How sick is the DRC justice system? So sick that the DRC justice minister Constant Mutamba wore a mask to stem the stench of rot in the Munzenze prison in Goma, a stone’s throw from the Rwandan border, while he spewed, in Kiswahili, hate speech and incited the prisoners to hunt, denounce, and kill ‘Banyarwanda,’ including the President of Rwanda, in exchange for freedom. This is what Rwanda has to deal with every day. This is why Rwanda’s defensive measures remain in place,” the spokesperson wrote on X, while taking a swipe at DRC’s justice system.

Rwanda has in the past put in place defensive measures citing constant threats from the FDLR group, which comprises remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The FDLR militia group has been accused of collaborating with the Congolese government to persecute Congolese Tutsis, many of whom have sought refuge in Rwanda. The persecution led to the rise of the M23 rebel group in 2012, which said it was fighting for the rights of the Tutsi minority in eastern Congo.

The fight between the government forces and the rebels has heightened tensions in the region as the Congolese leadership accused Rwanda of supporting M23. Rwanda denies the claim.

The situation was exacerbated after the Congolese political and military leadership, including President Tshisekedi, repeatedly declared their intention to invade Rwanda and change the country’s elected government by force.

Yesterday, there was progress in the ongoing peace talks between the two countries after an agreement was reached, outlining how the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia will be dismantled.

The agreement also includes Rwanda lifting the security measures it had put in place due to concerns over its security arising from the political tension in eastern DRC.

The signing of the agreement followed discussions between the two parties in Luanda, Angola. Rwanda was represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, while the DRC was represented by Foreign Minister Therese K. Wagner. The meeting was also attended by Angola’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tete António, who acted as the mediator.

Yolande Makolo’s remarks were in response to a viral video of Congolese Justice Minister Constant Mutamba, who was captured inciting inmates at Munzenze Prison in Goma against Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese Tutsis, whom he referred to as “Banyarwanda.”