WASHINGTON DE- Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, has sharply criticized what he described as international double standards in the ongoing security crisis involving Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, arguing that lasting peace in the region cannot be achieved unless the terrorist group FDLR is dismantled.
Nagy’s remarks came in response to a recent interview given by Paul Kagame to Jeune Afrique, in which the Rwandan leader addressed several regional and international issues, including Rwanda’s security concerns, its position on armed groups operating near its borders, and the broader instability in eastern Congo.
At the center of the discussion is the long-standing threat posed by the FDLR, a militia group rooted in the ideology and networks linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. For years, Rwanda has maintained that the continued presence and operations of the FDLR in eastern DRC represent a direct national security threat that cannot be ignored.
Reacting to Kagame’s interview, Nagy said the international community cannot continue to focus solely on Rwanda while failing to hold the Congolese government accountable for the presence and activities of the FDLR. According to him, if Rwanda is expected to respond to concerns surrounding the M23 rebellion, then the DRC must also be required to eliminate the forces that continue to threaten Rwanda’s security.
“I know that Rwandan President Kagame is a controversial figure,” Nagy said, “but in his interview with Jeune Afrique, he made a valid point: If the international community asks him to dismantle the groups protecting Rwanda [M23], then it should also ask the DRC to dismantle the groups attacking Rwanda [FDLR]. That is the only way!”
His comments reflect a growing frustration among observers who argue that the international response to the conflict in eastern Congo has too often failed to address the deeper security drivers of the crisis, particularly the continued existence of armed groups with genocidal ideology.
In the same interview, Kagame was asked directly about Rwanda’s alleged cooperation with M23. The question followed earlier remarks made on January 22 by Rwanda’s ambassador in Washington, who stated that Rwanda works with M23 on security matters. That statement was widely interpreted as confirmation that Rwanda’s defensive posture includes security engagement in eastern Congo.
Kagame did not deny that Rwanda has taken active measures to secure its borders. Instead, he framed those actions as legitimate defensive steps aimed at preventing hostile forces from threatening Rwandan territory.
“That is obvious,” Kagame said. “What do defensive measures mean? They mean protecting our territory and our borders so that no one can harm us. That involves many things, including the use of our military equipment, the deployment of our troops, and other actions.”
He went further, stressing that defensive action should not be mischaracterized when Rwanda is facing armed threats just across its border.
“In short, I do not see anything unclear about it,” Kagame added. “If protecting our borders requires that the enemy remain 5, 10, or 20 kilometers away from them, then those are defensive measures. So let us stop looking at these matters in only one way.”
The DRC government has been working hand in hand with FDLR soldiers.
The Rwandan president also challenged what he described as a selective narrative that isolates Rwanda for criticism while overlooking the role of the Congolese government and its alleged cooperation with the FDLR.
“Why do we speak only about Rwanda while it is facing a government that is working with the FDLR, yet we say nothing about that government?” Kagame asked. “Do not think I will remove my defensive measures while you are not removing the threats facing my country.”
Kagame argued that the obligations outlined in the Washington Agreement and previous regional understandings were intended to create a framework for mutual security and accountability. However, he suggested that those commitments have not been honored equally, particularly by Kinshasa.
He also stated that Rwanda has felt a greater sense of security since AFC/M23 fighters took control of certain border areas in eastern DRC, saying the situation on the ground has changed in a way that has reduced immediate threats near Rwanda’s frontier.
At the same time, Kagame criticized recent U.S. sanctions imposed on Rwanda’s armed forces, calling them politically biased and ineffective in changing Rwanda’s determination to defend itself. He emphasized that Rwanda would continue taking whatever measures it deems necessary to safeguard its sovereignty and protect its citizens.
The renewed debate over Rwanda’s security policy comes at a time when the conflict in eastern Congo remains one of Africa’s most volatile and dangerous crises. Millions of civilians continue to suffer the consequences of armed violence, displacement, and instability, while regional tensions remain high.
For many analysts, Tibor Nagy’s remarks underscore a central issue that has often been left unresolved in international discussions: peace in eastern Congo cannot be achieved through selective pressure or one-sided condemnation. As long as the FDLR remains active and unaddressed, efforts to stabilize the region will continue to face serious obstacles.
In Kigali, that message has been consistent for years. And now, with a former senior U.S. diplomat publicly echoing the same concern, the international community may face growing pressure to confront the FDLR issue more directly and more honestly.
