During its extraordinary congress held on 24 May 2025 in Brussels, the Rwandan opposition party FDU-Inkingi issued a strong statement denouncing what it describes as Rwanda’s ongoing war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as serious human rights violations committed both in Rwanda and in the DRC.
In its session, the party’s executive committee examined the broader security situation in the Great Lakes region, focusing particularly on how persistent violence continues to affect civilians in both Rwanda and the eastern DRC. The party accused the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF), under the command of General Paul Kagame, of fuelling instability in eastern Congo.
According to FDU-Inkingi, the war being waged by Rwandan troops involves the looting of natural resources, civilian massacres, mass displacement, and the systematic persecution of Hutu refugees, who are often falsely accused of belonging to the FDLR rebel group. These actions, the party said, amount to serious breaches of international humanitarian law.
The congress also addressed the arrest of Willy Ngoma, the former spokesperson of the M23 rebel movement, who was detained in Rwanda on 12 May 2025. Ngoma is accused of collaborating with Rwandan forces (RDF) in atrocities committed in the DRC, especially in Goma. Over 181 individuals were reportedly arrested in the same operation, based on testimonies from Congolese survivors.
FDU-Inkingi further condemned the forced return of 360 people, including women and children, on 17 May 2025, who were deported to Rwanda by bus. These individuals were quickly labelled as FDLR collaborators and are now held without due process.
The party recalls that such practices are not new and have historical roots. It referred to the Mapping Report published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which documents crimes committed between 1996 and 1998 against Hutu refugees in the DRC. The report describes acts that could be considered genocide, yet no judicial proceedings have ever taken place.
The party also warned about the continued support by Kagame’s regime for armed groups in neighbouring countries, including Burundi, where Rwanda is accused of interfering militarily in domestic affairs.
FDU-Inkingi urged the international community to ensure that future agreements between the DRC, the United States, and Rwanda include strict provisions to end the impunity of Rwandan perpetrators of crimes in the DRC. The party also called on the Rwandan government to release political prisoners, open up democratic space, and respect the rights of its citizens.
In its statement, the congress also highlighted the worsening domestic situation in Rwanda, marked by:
- chronic insecurity;
- widespread hunger and poverty;
- repression of civil liberties;
- unequal access to essential services;
- economic domination by the ruling RPF, particularly through the company Crystal Ventures, described as an instrument for diverting national wealth to the benefit of the regime.
The congress concluded by announcing that the next ordinary party congress will be held in August 2025. FDU-Inkingi reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of oppressed Rwandans both inside and outside the country.
Therwandan
