Rwanda Rejects DRC’s Claim That FDLR Is Based in AFC/M23 Areas

Kigali, August 4, 2026 - Rwanda has rejected claims by the Democratic Republic of Congo that FDLR fighters are based in areas controlled by the AFC/M23 coalition, with Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe describing the allegation as false and an attempt by Kinshasa to avoid its obligations under the Washington peace agreement.

The DRC government has argued that the FDLR is operating in territory controlled by AFC/M23, making it difficult for its forces to dismantle the group. Rwanda disputes this explanation, maintaining that Kinshasa is required under the peace agreement to neutralize the FDLR as part of efforts to restore lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.

Nduhungirehe said Rwanda has information on the FDLR’s activities and its alleged cooperation with the Congolese army, and that the information has been shared with the United States, which is mediating the peace process. He also rejected recent claims by FDLR spokesperson Cure Ngoma that the group’s fighters are concentrated in eastern Congo, including areas controlled by AFC/M23.

According to Nduhungirehe, some FDLR members have instead been integrated into the Congolese army and are operating alongside government forces in North and South Kivu. He accused Kinshasa of repeatedly changing its position on the group, saying it has previously claimed that FDLR fighters are too old to fight or that the organization no longer exists.

The dispute comes as regional parties continue efforts to implement the Washington peace agreement, with the FDLR’s presence and alleged links to Congolese forces remaining a major point of contention between Kigali and Kinshasa.