The Peace Agreement Is Not Moving Forward Because of Kagame's Actions
France 24 Interview | Patrick Muyaya on the DRC-Rwanda Peace Agreement
France 24 (Marc Perelman):
The peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda was signed a year ago and later endorsed by Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame alongside President Donald Trump in Washington. Yet one year later, U.S. Special Envoy Massad Boulos told the UN Security Council that the security provisions of the agreement have not been implemented by either the DRC or Rwanda. Do you agree with that assessment?
Patrick Muyaya:
Mr. Boulos is entitled to his opinion, but what I know is that the Democratic Republic of Congo has remained committed to peace from the very beginning. Negotiations started in July 2022 with one objective: restoring peace in eastern Congo.
You will remember that in December 2024, the planned summit in Luanda failed to take place. Shortly afterward, eastern Congo witnessed the fall of Goma and later Bukavu, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Our government has never hesitated to do everything possible to achieve peace.
In fact, on the very day the agreement was signed in Washington on December 4, 2025, a military offensive was launched from Rwanda toward Uvira. Six days after the agreement, Uvira had fallen.
As former U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz stated before the UN Security Council, Rwanda was responsible for disrupting the peace process. Since the agreement was signed, there has never been genuine political will from Rwanda to implement it.
On implementation of the agreement
France 24:
The Americans argue that both sides have failed to implement the agreement.
Patrick Muyaya:
We have a mediation process in place. Together with Rwanda and the American mediators, we identified six areas where the FDLR was believed to be present.
Five of those six areas are currently under the control of M23 and Rwandan forces.
The DRC completed the first phase of its obligations through awareness and sensitization efforts. The findings were submitted to the Joint Monitoring Mechanism in November 2025.
However, the fighting around Uvira disrupted the meetings that were supposed to take place. The first Joint Security Coordination Mechanism meeting only occurred in February 2026.
Today, it is evident that the security component of the agreement has not advanced primarily because of the actions of President Kagame and Rwandan forces operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
On Rwanda's justification
France 24:
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he hopes Rwandan troops will withdraw by mid-July. Rwanda says that will only happen once the DRC neutralizes the FDLR.
Patrick Muyaya:
That has been Rwanda's argument for decades.
The FDLR issue has existed under President Mobutu, Laurent Kabila, Joseph Kabila, and now President Félix Tshisekedi.
It is simply a pretext.
We are not the only ones saying this.
Human Rights Watch, the UN Group of Experts, and several foreign intelligence services have all concluded that although remnants of the FDLR still exist, they no longer represent a significant threat to Rwanda.
Nothing justifies the military aggression we continue to witness.
Thousands of people have died.
Entire communities continue to suffer.
Meanwhile, this violence serves as cover for the continued exploitation of Congo's natural resources.
On Rwandan troops inside Congo
France 24:
How many Rwandan soldiers are currently operating inside Congolese territory?
Patrick Muyaya:
I cannot provide an exact figure.
However, based on the operations we have observed since January, we estimate that at least 10,000 Rwandan soldiers have been involved.
They continue to be regularly redeployed as part of what we see as a deliberate strategy by President Kagame to occupy parts of Congolese territory through military force.
On the ICJ case
France 24:
The DRC has filed a case before the International Court of Justice accusing Rwanda of conducting a genocidal campaign in eastern Congo since 1996. Rwanda says these accusations are politically motivated.
Patrick Muyaya:
Rwanda will have the opportunity to present its defense before the International Court of Justice.
What we are saying is not new.
For nearly thirty years, UN reports—including the UN Mapping Report—and numerous independent investigations have documented crimes committed in eastern Congo.
The DRC is pursuing justice through international legal mechanisms because peace without accountability cannot be lasting peace.
Our objective is to ensure there is never a repetition of these crimes.
The ICJ case concerns Rwanda as a State.
At the same time, the UN Human Rights Council has established an independent commission investigating alleged crimes committed since January 2022.
We believe both state responsibility and individual criminal responsibility must be established.
On possible U.S. sanctions
France 24:
The United States has already imposed sanctions on Rwandan military officials and recently sanctioned Rwanda's only gold refinery. Do you hope Washington will eventually sanction President Paul Kagame himself?
Patrick Muyaya:
The United States has repeatedly stated that it would use every available tool to ensure the commitments made under the Washington agreement are respected.
The sanctions adopted so far demonstrate that Washington recognizes the seriousness of the situation.
However, additional measures remain possible.
Recent Human Rights Watch reports continue documenting violence against civilians, sexual violence, and child recruitment.
The United States possesses significant leverage.
Given the suffering of millions of Congolese, we believe Washington should continue using every diplomatic and economic tool available to ensure Rwanda fully respects the agreement signed before President Trump.
On the Ebola outbreak
France 24:
The Ebola outbreak has now spread to a fourth province. Critics say the government reacted too slowly.
Patrick Muyaya:
The World Health Organization itself has described our response as robust.
We reacted within the timeframe recommended by epidemiological experts once the first confirmed case was identified.
The challenge was that this outbreak involves a different Ebola strain whose symptoms initially resemble malaria, influenza, or diarrheal illnesses rather than classic Ebola.
That complicated early detection.
Since declaring the outbreak, we have worked closely with the WHO and Africa CDC.
Contact tracing has significantly improved, and many patients have recovered.
The government has also decided to cover all healthcare costs in Ituri Province so that anyone showing symptoms can seek treatment immediately.
This strategy is essential to breaking chains of transmission and bringing the outbreak under control.
France 24:
Patrick Muyaya, thank you for joining us.
Patrick Muyaya:
Thank you.