Keypoints:
- Kagame says Rwanda may withdraw troops if DR Congo honours Washington accord commitments
- US plans visa restrictions on Rwandan officials over alleged M23 support
- Renewed clashes in eastern Congo threaten fragile ceasefire efforts
RWANDAN President Paul Kagame has indicated that Rwanda could withdraw its troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo if Kinshasa fulfils obligations under a US-brokered peace agreement aimed at ending years of violence in the region.
Kagame made the remarks late Friday during a dinner with diplomats accredited to Kigali, where he outlined Rwanda’s position on the ongoing conflict and the conditions under which the country would ease what it describes as defensive military measures along its western border.
The statement comes amid renewed diplomatic tensions and fresh US pressure on Rwanda over its alleged role in the conflict.
Washington accord sets conditions
In December, Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi signed a peace and economic agreement in Washington designed to reduce hostilities and address security concerns in eastern Congo.
The accord, brokered by US President Donald Trump, sought to stabilise the volatile Great Lakes region by establishing a ceasefire and outlining steps to dismantle armed groups operating in eastern Congo.
However, tensions around the agreement have continued to surface, with fighting erupting shortly after the deal was signed. An earlier Africa Briefing report detailed how clashes intensified in eastern Congo soon after the signing of the Washington peace framework.
As part of the agreement, Rwanda committed to withdrawing troops it says were deployed for defensive purposes. Both countries also pledged to stop supporting militias and other non-state armed groups operating across the border.
Among the groups referenced in the deal is the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Rwandan rebel movement based in eastern Congo that Kigali considers a major threat to its national security.
Addressing diplomats in Kigali, Kagame said the Washington agreement recognised the security concerns of both countries and created a framework for restoring stability.
However, he warned that developments on the ground have complicated implementation of the accord.
Concerns over military buildup
According to Kagame, there has been a sustained military buildup in eastern Congo involving pro-government militias and foreign forces.
He said thousands of militia fighters aligned with Kinshasa, alongside Burundian troops, have launched operations in South Kivu while diplomatic talks were still ongoing.
Kagame argued that such actions undermine the spirit of the Washington agreement and called for all parties involved to be held to the same standards.
‘Rwanda, because of its history and its geography, requires defensive borders. Our defensive measures are aimed at this objective, and nothing else,’ he said.
He added that Kigali remains open to reducing its military posture if the Congolese government meets its obligations under the deal.
‘Rwanda is ready to lift its defensive measures in tandem with the DRC fulfilling its obligations under the Washington Accords,’ Kagame told the diplomats.
US pressure and sanctions threat
Kagame’s remarks came shortly after the US State Department announced plans to impose visa restrictions on several senior Rwandan officials accused of contributing to instability in eastern Congo.
The decision follows mounting pressure from Washington over alleged support for the M23 rebel group.
Africa Briefing previously reported that the United States imposed visa restrictions on Rwandan officials as part of a broader effort to enforce the Washington peace deal.
Washington has also sanctioned Rwanda’s military and senior commanders over alleged operational support to M23 fighters in eastern Congo. Rwanda has strongly rejected the accusations and criticised the sanctions as one-sided.
Decades-old conflict persists
The crisis in eastern Congo remains one of Africa’s most complex and enduring conflicts, fuelled by ethnic tensions, armed militias and competition for control of mineral-rich territories.
Kagame said the conflict has persisted not because it is difficult to understand, but because it has been neglected for decades by actors with the power to help resolve it.
Analysts note that accusations over mineral exploitation and regional security continue to shape the dispute between Kigali and Kinshasa.
Despite the Washington accord and a ceasefire initiative proposed by Angola last month, violence has intensified again in recent days.
Fresh clashes have forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes in eastern Congo, worsening an already severe humanitarian situation.
Kinshasa, the United Nations, and several Western governments continue to accuse Rwanda of backing the M23 insurgency — claims Kigali strongly denies.
With diplomatic pressure mounting and violence continuing on the ground, the future of the Washington peace framework remains uncertain.
