On the ground and among officials, tensions persist between the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo and those of Rwanda, despite the Washington peace agreement signed between the two countries under the auspices of the United States.
During a press conference in Kigali on Thursday, November 27, 2025, Rwandan President Paul Kagame appeared to stand firm on his position, making the neutralization of the FDLR the primary condition for the return of peace to the region. He emphasized his role as guarantor of Rwanda's internal security in the face of what he considers a threat from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which he describes as genocidal forces supported, according to him, by the Kinshasa regime.
“I used to tell Congolese leaders that for us to have security in our country and the peace for which we have fought for so many years, this is an essential condition. We must grant each other peace. I cannot ask anyone for peace as a favor, no. For us to have peace, I beg you, you must do me a favor, give me my peace? That's another world I don't live in. I cannot ask anyone to do me a favor so that Rwanda is safe or so that my rights are respected. At first, I might ask you if you wish, or even beg you, but if you do not give me my rights, then we will fight, that's clear,” said Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda.
Faced with the controversy sparked by the Paris Humanitarian Conference regarding the reopening of Goma airport, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has sided with the AFC/M23 rebellion, arguing that the current humanitarian crisis is not the same as it was before the occupation of Goma. He also stated that any negotiations concerning the airport must take place with the current authorities, namely the AFC/M23 rebellion.
"Regarding Goma, I don't entirely understand. As for the humanitarian crisis, yes, there is suffering, that's undeniable. But it seems there was even more suffering before the crisis, or rather, before it began. Today, I think the suffering persists, but perhaps it is less severe. However, talking so much about a humanitarian crisis is a way of finding an entry point, an easy entry point, to then shape it to suit one's own narrative, according to how some perceive history." “I’m speaking. We can’t talk about a humanitarian crisis without highlighting its root cause,” stated Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
In Kinshasa, President Kagame’s latest remarks are seen as a claim of responsibility for the actions carried out by the AFC/M23 rebellion. According to government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, the DRC expects Rwanda to honor its commitments within the framework of ongoing diplomatic initiatives aimed at restoring peace to the eastern part of the country.
“I believe it is the father who is taking responsibility for the son’s actions. If you have been following him, there is absolutely no ambiguity. We expect him to uphold his commitments within the diplomatic process in which we are engaged. We will have the opportunity to revisit this in the coming days to assess who has fulfilled their obligations to restore peace to this part of the country and allow our people to freely go about their business,” reacted Patrick Muyaya, government spokesperson, on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
He condemned Paul Kagame’s denialist behavior, which seeks to deny the existence of the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC in order to oppose the reopening of Goma airport. Patrick Muyaya reaffirmed the government's commitment to doing everything possible to restore state authority.
"North Kivu province is governed by the military governor from Beni, just as South Kivu province is governed from the city of Uvira. Parts of the territory are occupied, and we are working on this daily. You saw that the 2026 budget allocates 30% to security. So, the message we must reiterate to all our people who may have been victims of this manipulation is that we are working to ensure that every square inch of national territory is returned to us and that every Congolese life is preserved. Those who deny the existence of the humanitarian crisis the world is witnessing cannot present themselves as the solution, because they are the problem. They are the ones preventing the Goma airport from opening, they are the ones who killed, they are the ones who..."
"They attacked schools and they will be held accountable," the government spokesperson emphasized.
While progress on the ground remains limited in terms of de-escalation between Kinshasa and Kigali, as well as between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 rebellion, the American mediation process appears to be on schedule. The various stakeholders involved in the Washington process, facilitated by the United States, are, for the time being, meeting the established deadlines.
At the last meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM), held on November 19 and 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C., with representatives from the DRC, Rwanda, the United States, Qatar, Togo (the African Union mediator), and the African Union Commission in attendance, participants assessed the level of implementation of the Washington agreement, signed nearly four months prior, on June 27. 2025.
"The DRC and Rwanda have committed to advancing the Order of Operations (OPORD) in order to implement the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) of the harmonized plan for the neutralization of the FDLR and the disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda." The JSCM observers welcomed the efforts made by the Parties to facilitate the continued demobilization, repatriation, and reintegration of FDLR members,” reads the final communiqué from the U.S. State Department.
During the same meeting, participants reviewed progress made in the first phase of the OPORD, including updates on intelligence sharing and information operations conducted by the DRC to engage accessible communities and encourage FDLR members to lay down their arms. The Parties engaged in open discussions to address ongoing challenges and identify gaps and opportunities to ensure the success of the first phase. JSCM members also began discussions on the second phase of the OPORD, including actions to neutralize the FDLR and lift Rwanda’s defensive measures.
Following the fall of Goma and Bukavu and the collapse of the Luanda process, the Washington Agreement and the Doha process now constitute the two complementary aspects of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the persistent conflicts in eastern DRC, particularly those involving Rwanda and armed groups such as the M23.
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