Rwanda Urges EU to Reconsider Approach to Great Lakes Crisis, Citing Security Threats

By Adonis Byemelwa

Kigali--- Rwanda, has delivered a strong message to the European Union (EU), calling for a more balanced approach to the ongoing crisis in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (EDRC).

The call came on 28 February 2025 during a meeting between Rwanda's Minister of State Gen. (Rtd) James Kabarebe and EU Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, Ambassador Johan Borgstam, during his working visit to Kigali.

The high-stakes meeting served as a platform for Rwanda to express mounting concerns over what it sees as the international community’s selective narrative on the conflict.

"The situation in Eastern DRC cannot be reduced to simplistic comparisons with the war in Ukraine. Such comparisons only serve to distract from the real, deeply rooted issues that have plagued the region for decades," said Gen. Kabarebe.

The statement came as Rwanda rejected any attempt to equate the two conflicts, calling such analogies politically motivated and disconnected from the lived realities of those enduring the violence in the Great Lakes region.

For years, the Eastern DRC has been a theater of recurring violence, exacerbated by the presence of more than 200 armed groups. Among the most troubling for Rwanda is the FDLR militia — a group formed by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Despite being designated as a genocidal group by the UN, the FDLR continues to operate largely unchecked, deepening Rwanda’s fears of cross-border attacks. The scars of the genocide remain raw in Rwanda, and the presence of such forces just across the border serves as a constant reminder of unresolved historical wounds.

"Rwanda faces an existential threat that should not be downplayed or politicized," Kabarebe emphasized. "When genocidal forces align with international military coalitions near our borders, it is not a matter of speculation — it is a question of survival."

The coalition in question includes not only the FDLR but also Burundian troops, Wazalendo ethnic militias, SAMIDRC, and European mercenaries. The sheer proximity of these forces has heightened the sense of vulnerability among Rwandans living in border regions, where stories of displacement and fear are woven into daily life.

At the heart of Rwanda’s message was a plea for security guarantees. Kigali insists that any sustainable peace deal must include the full withdrawal of foreign forces from its borders, a definitive resolution to the M23 rebel group’s grievances, and the neutralization of the FDLR.

These demands, Rwanda argues, are not mere political talking points — they are the prerequisites for stability in a region where cycles of violence have become tragically routine.

The meeting also highlighted Rwanda's frustration with what it perceives as the EU’s double standards on sovereignty and territorial integrity. "When it comes to Ukraine, sovereignty is a sacred principle. When it comes to Rwanda, that same principle seems negotiable," Kabarebe remarked.

Since 2018, Rwanda’s territory has been violated more than 20 times — a pattern documented in multiple independent reports. In response, Rwanda has adopted defensive measures, vowing to maintain them until the threats are fully addressed.

Yet Kigali's sense of injustice goes beyond security violations. The country expressed disappointment at how domestic EU political dynamics appear to overshadow African-led peace efforts.

Sanctions against Rwanda, often framed as human rights measures, have done little to address the root causes of the conflict, Rwanda argues. "Punitive measures that target countries defending themselves only embolden those who profit from chaos," Kabarebe said. "They undermine not only Rwanda but the very peace processes the EU claims to support."

Rwanda further accused the DRC of misleading the international community by calling for sanctions as a smokescreen to mask its internal governance failures, rampant corruption, and human rights abuses.

The DRC's growing appetite for arms deals, coupled with persistent reports of civilian abuses, paints a grim picture of a government more invested in war than in peace.

Despite the mounting tensions, Rwanda ended the meeting on a note of cautious optimism. The country encouraged the EU to engage constructively in regional peace efforts, urging member states to avoid entangling diplomacy with political agendas.

"Peace in the Great Lakes region cannot be imposed from outside," Kabarebe concluded. "It must be built from within — through dialogue, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to security for all."

The coming months will be a critical test of whether the EU will recalibrate its approach or continue to let political interests dictate its stance in one of Africa's most volatile regions. For those living in the shadow of the conflict, the stakes could not be higher.