The conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been ongoing for decades, resulting in the displacement of millions of people and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. Despite the fact that the conflict is primarily driven by internal factors such as the complex web of ethnicity, economic factors, the exploitation of natural resources, and political instability, the international community has often placed the blame on Rwanda for the violence, claiming that our country is supporting rebel groups and fueling the conflict. Unfortunately, these accusations overlook the situation's complexity and unfairly paint Rwanda as a villain. This narrative is not only inaccurate, but it also fails to notice the fact that Rwanda has been instrumental in helping to end the conflict and a prominent advocate for regional cooperation and economic integration as well as a significant proponent of the Great Lakes Region Initiative, which seeks to promote peace and economic development in the region. Moreover, we have also been a victim of the conflicts in the DRC. Our country has faced threats from armed groups operating in the DRC, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), responsible for numerous attacks inside Rwanda. Additionally, the conflicts in the DRC have also led to the displacement of thousands of Congolese Rwandophones, further exacerbating the regional humanitarian crisis. Additionally, you have over 100 armed groups, which include genocidal forces operating in the DRC, each with their own agendas and interests. Plus, foreign nations have sought to exploit these conflicts by sending arms and money to support their favored sides. And the international community has supported various actors throughout the conflict, either directly or indirectly, through proxies; As such, attributing blame to Rwanda ignores all of these other contributing elements and fails to recognize that the international community is complicit. The failure of the international community to address the root causes of the conflict in the DRC and hold DRC leaders accountable has perpetuated the cycle of violence and suffering in the country. It is crucial that the international community takes a more proactive and practical approach to resolve the crisis in the DRC, including holding accountable DRC leaders who fuel the conflict through preaching hatred. In a nutshell, the conflicts in the DRC are the result of a complex web of factors, and Rwanda has also been a victim of these conflicts. And should not be blamed for the conflicts at all. The international community should recognize the efforts of Rwanda in helping to end the conflict and should focus on promoting regional cooperation and economic integration. Only then can the DRC be brought to a lasting peace.
