Senator Nyirasafari: Rwanda committed to peace but ready to defend itself

Senator Nyirasafari Espérance, a member of Rwanda’s Senate, affirmed that while Rwanda prioritizes peaceful resolutions to the ongoing security issues in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it remains prepared to address any threats to its security.

She made these remarks during the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, in response to comments from DRC’s Senate President, Sama Lukonde, who accused Rwanda of being the root cause of the insecurity plaguing his country.

In her response, Nyirasafari emphasized that the insecurity in the DRC stems from a lack of political will to resolve the underlying causes of conflicts and the ongoing collaboration between the DRC government and armed groups, particularly the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). This group, which was responsible for the genocide against the Tutsi, found refuge in the DRC following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

"This partnership continues to exacerbate the situation in Eastern DRC and intensifies the violation of human rights for Congolese Tutsi and fuels insecurity throughout the region," She stated.

Senator Nyirasafari pointed out the DRC’s insufficient commitment to resolving the crisis, citing an incident where a joint agreement aimed at combatting the FDLR was not finalized.

"Despite the agreement being endorsed by senior military officials from the DRC, Angola, and Rwanda, the DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs unexpectedly refused to endorse it," she noted.

She also mentioned that recent reports confirmed DRC’s refusal to sign the agreement during a ministerial meeting in Luanda.

While the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) continue their cooperation with FDLR, the DRC government has not agreed to disband this militia, which Rwanda and Angola believe is primarily responsible for regional insecurity.

"Rwanda acknowledges that the solution to the issues in Eastern DRC should be sought through dialogue, rather than engaging in blame games. While we remain committed to a peaceful path, we will always be ready to defend against any threats to our nation," Nyirasafari stressed.

This statement highlights Rwanda’s ongoing commitment to maintaining its security amidst regional tensions and emphasizes the need for diplomatic solutions to complex conflicts in the Great Lakes region.