DRC Fires Back at Rwanda at UN Security Council Over FDLR Narrative

Key Excerpts from DRC UN Ambassador Statement Zénon Ngay Mukongo

When Rwanda’s representatives invoke the 1994 genocide and claim that its perpetrators are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one might think they are referring to Congolese people. They are not. They are referring to Rwandans, the FDLR they speak about.

These are Rwandans who fled Rwanda and entered the Congolese territory. Rwanda itself is a country where two groups have long been in conflict, whereas the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to over 450 ethnic groups living together in harmony.

The genocidal ideology that Rwanda attempts to project onto Congolese territory is incompatible with the Congolese reality. That is why we say this narrative they are promoting may serve Rwanda, but it does not reflect the situation in the DRC.

At one point, a senior Rwandan ambassador posted in Kinshasa even stated publicly that the FDLR no longer posed a threat to Rwanda. This is documented and available. The narrative is cyclical: today it is the FDLR, tomorrow it is hate speech, and the next day another justification emerges.

Speaking of hate speech, how can a country that is heavily armed and enters your territory, massacres your women, your families, your children, expect to be welcomed with kind words? Where has that ever been seen?

Rwanda now gives the impression that hate speech is more serious than massacres. How many Congolese have been killed since the occupation of Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira? And this is being equated to hate speech?

In reality, hate speech is a consequence of the violence inflicted, not its cause.

They also speak of protecting “Rwandophones” in Congo, referring to the Banyamulenge. But the Banyamulenge are Congolese, not Rwandan. Simply because some Congolese resemble Rwandans does not give Rwanda the right to enter Congolese territory to “protect” them. What audacity. In what country does a foreign power enter and claim the right to protect citizens of another nation?

The truth that is being ignored is the exploitation of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s natural resources. And we will not remain silent about it. Rwanda today occupies the mines of Rubaya. Rwanda has become a major exporter of coltan, a resource that does not exist in its own subsoil.

And yet, they speak to you about hate speech.

That is the essence of our position.

You (Rwandans) do not have the right to come and “protect” Congolese populations on Congolese territory.