Rwanda Tells UN Security Council Peace in Great Lakes Depends on Dismantling FDLR

The message was delivered on April 15, 2026, by Rwanda’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Robert Kayinamura, during a Security Council session focused on regional peace and cooperation initiatives. Kayinamura said persistent insecurity in the region must be addressed at its root causes, including the continued presence of armed groups and ongoing violence affecting civilian populations. He cited hate speech, targeted attacks, and violence against Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in the DRC, including the Banyamulenge, as key concerns contributing to instability. According to the Rwandan envoy, the continued existence of the FDLR in eastern DRC remains a major obstacle to peace and regional security. “This group is a problem for Rwanda and for the security of the region. Its continued existence is contrary to the decisions taken under the framework we are discussing. There is no credible path to peace unless it is effectively and irreversibly dismantled,” he said. Rwanda also argued that the DRC must apply security measures consistently across all armed groups, without selective enforcement or exclusion of certain actors. Kayinamura added that the issue of the FDLR has been repeatedly raised in regional and international peace processes, including commitments made under earlier agreements. He referenced the 2013 regional framework on peace and cooperation and a subsequent agreement signed in Washington in June 2025, under which the DRC government reportedly committed to dismantling the group. Rwanda further stated that despite these commitments, the FDLR remains active in eastern DRC and continues to pose a threat to regional stability. The remarks come amid ongoing tensions in eastern Congo, where multiple armed groups operate alongside government forces and regional actors in a complex and protracted conflict environment.