In a statement released on March 2, 2026, the Office of the Government Spokesperson (OGS) said the sanctions unfairly target only one party involved in the peace process, while ignoring the role of other actors who continue to fuel instability in the region.

According to Rwanda, ongoing and indiscriminate drone attacks and ground offensives in eastern DRC constitute clear violations of ceasefire agreements and continue to cost civilian lives. The statement emphasized that protecting Rwanda’s national security remains a core duty of the RDF, carried out with honor and responsibility.

The government also highlighted that a coalition supporting the DRC includes foreign mercenaries, state-backed extremist ethnic militias (Wazalendo), and the FDLR an armed group partly composed of individuals linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Rwanda maintains that the FDLR operates alongside the Congolese armed forces (FARDC), further destabilizing the region.

Rwanda referenced commitments made under the Washington Accords, in which the DRC pledged to bring an irreversible and verifiable end to state support for the FDLR and associated militias. Kigali said no tangible steps have yet been taken to fulfill these obligations.

Despite the tensions, Rwanda welcomed the resumption of the Washington Accords’ implementation process, including the establishment of a Joint Oversight Committee. The government stressed that meaningful progress requires fairness, balance, and accountability from all parties involved.

Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to delivering on all aspects of the agreement, including regional economic integration, while emphasizing that sustainable peace depends on the equal responsibility of all stakeholders.