In a statement to the House Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, on January 22, 2026, Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana expressed Rwanda’s profound gratitude to the Trump administration for brokering the historic Washington Accords. This peace agreement aims to resolve longstanding tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda while working alongside Qatari-led mediation. The Rwandan government views these accords as a critical step toward permanent stability and prosperity in the Great Lakes region.
The necessity of the agreement was highlighted by a surge in violence in eastern DRC during December 2025. Ambassador Mukantabana attributed this escalation to “unaccountable actors,” including mercenaries and government-supported militias, who sought to undermine the progress of the Washington Accords. In a move toward de-escalation encouraged by the Rwandan government, the AFC/M23 recently conducted a unilateral withdrawal from Uvira to prove they were not the instigators of this violence.
Rwanda’s security concerns are deeply rooted in the history of the Abacengezi insurgency that followed the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This genocidal force, comprised of former Rwandan Armed Forces and Interahamwe militia, launched systematic attacks from DRC territory between 1994 and 1999. These insurgents targeted students and civilians who embraced reconciliation, seeking to complete the genocide and return to power.
The threat posed by these forces has persisted for three decades, evolving into groups like the FDLR. Despite numerous international commitments and UN resolutions calling for their disarmament, the FDLR has remained operational and has even been integrated into Congolese military (FARDC) operations. Documented evidence suggests that active collaboration between the Congolese military and the FDLR reached unprecedented levels starting in 2021.
In the interest of transparency, Ambassador Mukantabana acknowledged that Rwanda engages in security coordination with AFC/M23 (an independent Congolese group with its own legitimate grievances against Kinshasa, including killings, rape, and systematic discrimination against Congolese Tutsi populations). She clarified that this partnership is a defensive measure intended to protect Tutsi populations and prevent another cross-border genocidal insurgency. Rwanda maintains that its actions are narrowly focused on protection rather than determining political outcomes within the DRC.
The path forward relies on the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) established in the Washington Accords, which sets measurable benchmarks for peace. Rwanda has committed to a phased and independently verified drawdown of its security coordination with AFC/M23 as Kinshasa fulfills its obligations. These obligations include the neutralization and repatriation of FDLR fighters and the cessation of support for associated militias.
Beyond security, the Washington Accords introduce the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF) to transform the region’s economy. This framework envisions the Great Lakes as a hub for investment in critical minerals, tourism, and shared infrastructure. Such cooperation is expected to create jobs and lift millions out of poverty by allowing entrepreneurs to trade freely across borders.
Ambassador Mukantabana concluded by emphasizing that while Rwanda remains committed to this vision of shared prosperity, it must maintain defensive capabilities until the genocidal threat is permanently eliminated. The government stands ready to work with the United States, the DRC, and international partners to turn this opportunity into a permanent reality.
