The United States has warned Rwanda over alleged military actions in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), saying they violate the Washington Accords, a peace agreement signed in Washington by the two countries earlier this month.
The agreement was signed by Rwanda President Paul Kagame and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi on December 4 and was witnessed by other African heads of state, including President William Ruto.
In a statement on his official X account on Saturday, December 14, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the U.S. will take action to ensure that Rwanda upholds the commitments made under the accord, which was signed under President Donald Trump.
"Rwanda's actions in eastern DRC are a clear violation of the Washington Accords signed by President Trump, and the United States will take action to ensure promises made to the President are kept," Rubio stated.
The statement comes amid escalating conflict in eastern DRC, where the Rwanda-linked M23 rebel group has continued to capture strategic towns, including the port city of Uvira, near Burundi, just days after the agreement.
In response to Rubio’s statement, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, accused the international community of double standards, saying it had been fully briefed on developments in eastern DRC and has its own means of investigation.
"Rwanda is surprised to note that even though the international community was fully briefed and has its own means of investigation, voices have suddenly woken up only when the AFC/M23 decided to retaliate,” Nduhungirehe said.
At the UN on Friday, the United States accused Rwanda of catalysing instability and war as the M23 rebel groups continue to threaten to derail US efforts to broker peace between the two countries.
"The Rwandan defence forces have provided material, logistics, and training support to M23 as well as warring alongside M23 in DRC with roughly 5,000 to support 7,000 troops," US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said.
According to the UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the new attacks "pose a serious risk of the progressive fragmentation of the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly the Eastern part."
At the UN meeting, Burundi's ambassador, Zephyrin Maniratanga, accused Rwanda of bombing its territory.
However, in response, Rwanda's ambassador to the UN, Martin Ngoga, said that Rwanda has no intention of engaging in war with Burundi.
"Rwanda is not waging war against the Republic of Burundi and has no intention of doing that," Ngoga said.
On the other hand, Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Katukwamba Wagner called for sanctions against Rwanda and accused the Security Council of its "lack of action".
