The government of Rwanda has warned that military operations may be launched against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) if its fighters refuse voluntary repatriation. The statement came during a briefing to the Chamber of Deputies by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Ambassador Jean Patrick Olivier Nduhungirehe, following the June 27 peace agreement signed in Washington between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The agreement outlines a roadmap to dismantle the FDLR composed of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi—and obligates the DRC to cease all support for the group.
“This agreement is a major step toward restoring peace, security, and trust between Rwanda and the DRC,” Nduhungirehe told lawmakers.
The deal includes plans for joint security coordination and a monitoring committee featuring representatives from Rwanda, the DRC, the United States, Qatar, and Togo.
Nduhungirehe reaffirmed Rwanda’s longstanding reintegration efforts at the Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre, but warned that military force would be the alternative for those who refuse voluntary return.
Members of Parliament questioned who would be authorized to initiate such force. In response, Nduhungirehe said military engagement would be coordinated through regional mediation frameworks, with the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) expected to take the lead. The African Union would also play a role in oversight.
He cited the ongoing cooperation between the FDLR and the Congolese army (FARDC) as a major obstacle to peace, including the recent return of former rebel commander Brig Gen Gakwerere wearing FARDC uniform.
The FDLR has historically carried out deadly cross-border attacks, including a 2019 assault in Kinigi ahead of Rwanda’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). In April 2025, following the fall of Goma to M23 rebels, joint FARDC-FDLR shelling killed 16 civilians in Rwanda and injured many others.
“The presence and support of FDLR within the DRC threatens our security,” said Nduhungirehe. “If peaceful reintegration is rejected, then firm military action through regional collaboration—will be the only remaining option.”
