It’s like déjà vu: DRC crisis and how Rwanda is scapegoated.

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I’m back again. In this article, we are going to look again on the situation in the Great lakes region and how it is affecting us. Us, I mean we Rwandans I can say that, the war in the DRC has been affecting us directly and indirectly as Rwandans for many years. Now with the new chapter that unfolded in the beginning of this year, it feels like a déjà vu.

The crisis in the Great Lakes region is once again unfolding in a familiar and frustrating pattern. For us Rwandans, the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has had direct and indirect consequences for many years. The latest developments in early 2025 feel like a repetition of past events, a cycle that seems never-ending.

Rwanda and the DRC share a complex and unstable relationship, often alternating between moments of cooperation and hostility. Every time armed conflicts arise due to the discrimination against Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese, the DRC government quickly shifts blame to Rwanda. This strategy serves as a convenient distraction from their own internal governance failures and the systemic marginalization of certain communities.

For those familiar with the history of this conflict, this is nothing new. Having grown up in Gisenyi, a border town adjacent to Goma, I have witnessed firsthand the deep connections between the two cities. Thousands of Rwandans and Congolese cross the Gisenyi-Goma border daily for trade, work, and family visits, particularly at "Petite Barrière." The people share cultural ties, yet political tensions between the two nations continue to fuel instability in the region.

 


When a crisis erupts in the DRC, Rwandans often react with a weary sense of déjà vu. The same accusations resurface, blaming Rwanda for internal conflicts that stem from the DRC’s own failures in governance and security management.

One of the latest developments in this ongoing saga is the legal case brought by the DRC against Rwanda at the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. On August 21, 2023, the DRC submitted an application alleging serious human rights violations by Rwanda. The case argues that Rwanda has breached multiple fundamental rights protected under international law, including: The right to life and physical integrity; Protection from slavery, human trafficking, and torture; The right to security, liberty, and justice. (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO V. REPUBLIC OF RWANDA APPLICATION No. 007/2023CASE SUMMARY).[1]

This legal move is part of a broader pattern in which the DRC seeks to externalize its problems rather than addressing the root causes of its instability. Instead of tackling the long-standing ethnic tensions and governance challenges within its borders, the DRC government continues to place the blame on Rwanda, fueling diplomatic tensions and deepening divisions.

While Rwanda has consistently denied involvement in the DRC’s internal affairs, the accusations persist. The real victims of this political blame game are the civilians on both sides of the border, who suffer from the consequences of prolonged instability. The ongoing crisis calls for genuine dialogue and regional cooperation rather than finger-pointing and legal battles that do little to address the realities on the ground.

On 2nd February 2025 - Rwanda rejected the accusations against the Rwanda[2] Defence Force (RDF) made in the statement of the Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held on 31 January 2025. The RDF defends Rwanda’s borders from threats and protects civilians; it does not attack civilians.

SADC has deployed an offensive force, SAMIDRC, to support the war of the Government of DRC against its own people – the M23 and the members of their community – many of whom have fled as refugees to Rwanda and throughout the region. The Government of the DRC is also bent on attacking Rwanda and overthrowing its government, as has been repeatedly and publicly stated by President Tshisekedi. It is clear that SAMIDRC, together with coalition partners that include the Burundian armed forces, the FDLR, and European mercenaries, are central to the conflict and should not be there because they are adding to the problems that already existed.

The argument that SAMIDRC was invited by the Government of the DRC is rendered void by the fact that they are there to fight the citizens of that country and effectively bring war to Rwanda.

Recent information coming from Goma on what has been discovered, and the documentary evidence of attack preparations planned together with the foreign forces fighting in eastern DRC, including the FDLR, indicate that combat objectives were not limited to defeating M23, but also attacking Rwanda. Rwanda has consistently advocated for a political solution to the ongoing conflict and welcomes the proposed joint summit of the East African Community and SADC.

On 13 March 2025, the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government[3] of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held to deliberate on the security situation in the DRC. The summit, chaired by President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, made a significant decision to terminate the mandate of SAMIDRC and initiate a phased withdrawal of its troops from the DRC.

The summit reaffirmed its commitment to supporting peace and security in the DRC, in line with the SADC Mutual Defence Pact of 2003, emphasizing the need for a political and diplomatic solution involving all stakeholders, including state and non-state actors, military and non-military entities. Furthermore, the summit reiterated the decision made during the joint meeting of the East African Community (EAC) and SADC to merge the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes while expanding the number of facilitators to enhance the peace-building efforts.

This development underscores the ineffectiveness of SAMIDRC’s intervention and the recognition that a military solution is not viable for the region’s long-term stability. Instead, dialogue and cooperation remain the key pathways to resolving the crisis in the DRC and ensuring regional security.

 

 

Conclusion.

The ongoing crisis in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the DRC, continues to follow a familiar and frustrating pattern. Once again, Rwanda is unfairly scapegoated for deep-rooted governance failures and ethnic tensions within the DRC. The repeated accusations against Rwanda, rather than addressing the real issues at play, serve as a political distraction that prolongs instability and suffering for civilians on both sides of the border.

However, recent developments—such as the termination of SAMIDRC’s mandate and the push for a political solution—offer a glimmer of hope. The recognition that a military approach cannot resolve this crisis is a step in the right direction. Now, the focus must shift to genuine diplomatic engagement, inclusive dialogue, and sustainable peace efforts. Only through cooperation and regional commitment can the Great Lakes region break free from this cycle of conflict and move toward lasting stability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm here to shed light on; Law, History, and Politics.

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