IMPUZAMASHYIRAHAMWE YA SOSIYETE SIVILI NYARWANDA (C.A.S.C.R)
Collectif des Associations de la Société Civile Rwandaise
Collective of Rwandan Civil Society Associations
15, rue des Dardanelles, 4800 Verviers, Belgique
E-mail : ccscr.cadredeconcertation@gmail.com
PRESS RELEASE N° 5/CASCR/2025 OF JANUARY 31, 2026
REFLECTIONS ON THE PEACE AGREEMENTS SIGNED IN WASHINGTON (U.S.A.) ON DECEMBER 4, 2025 BETWEEN RWANDA AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC), AND THE IMPACT ON RESOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF RWANDAN REFUGEES.
The Collectives of Rwandan Civil Society Organizations (CASCR) announces to everyone its views on the peace agreement signed in Washington, D.C., between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda on December 4, 2025. We also take this opportunity to wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026; may it be a year of joined forces to restore peace in the countries of the African Great Lakes Region (GLR).
1. What CASCR appreciates about the agreement
As members of CASCR, we support the idea that war-related problems should be resolved through negotiations and discussions. We appreciate the actions of the United States of America (USA) and President Donald Trump in seeking to end the war waged by the Rwandan army and M23/AFC1 in eastern DRC so that peace can return to that country, as this war continues to kill many innocent civilians including Congolese citizens and Rwandan refugees in RDC.
CASCR also supports the willingness of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and President Félix Tshisekedi to end the war through political and diplomatic means, without the use of guns and ammunition, in order to prevent that country from waging another war against the people of Rwanda.
Since the Rwandan government has agreed to sign the agreement, it can no longer claim that it has no soldiers in the DRC.
2. Concerns about the implementation of the agreement
CASCR is deeply concerned after noting that the leaders of the two warring countries did not even shake hands as a sign of love and peace during the signing of the agreement. Many people who followed the ceremony, like us, wondered whether the Rwandan government and M23/AFC would respect the agreement, because simply signing it does not mean the end of the war.
Those who had these concerns did not have to wait long to find an answer, because the Rwandan government and the M23/AFC groups launched attacks on the city of Uvira during and after the signing of the agreement, which continue to this day, killing many innocent civilians and displacing others. This is evidence that the Rwandan government was using trickery to gain control of the city of Uvira. This is exactly what happened : after capturing the city of Uvira, they intended to continue toward Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi. Fortunately, the Government of Burundi worked together with its people and prevented them from entering.
In addition to this shameful act, which shows a lack of respect for the agreement, the fact that it took place on the day when the whole world was celebrating the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also shows their intention to continue violating the principles of this declaration. We recall that even a few days before the signing of the agreement, RDF/M23 forces launched attacks in various regions of southern DRC, and in order to secure the signing of the agreement, these regions were also captured.
All these signs show that the Rwandan government soldiers and the M23/AFC groups demonstrate no willingness to implement these agreements. They considered the signing as a game and used it as a means to continue the war, while on the other side, the Congolese government continued to respect and implement the agreements.
CASCR members have consistently condemned the killings and other human rights violations committed against Congolese people and Rwandan refugees in areas occupied by these military groups in the DRC2. These acts are contrary to our principles. On the day the city of Uvira was taken, CASCR members were commemorating the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of our organization, which was founded on 10.12.2016.
We strongly condemn the Rwandan government and the M23/AFC for the attacks they carried out in the city of Uvira and in other areas before the signing of the agreement, while all delegates were preparing to go and sign the agreement to end the war and restore peace in the Great Lakes region of Africa.
3. CASCR’s reproaches of the agreement
What CASCR members criticize about these agreements is that organizations that protect the rights of Rwandan refugees were not invited to the negotiations that led to their conclusion. Yet, Rwandan government officials claim that they are fighting for the security of the country so that Rwandan refugees linked to the FDLR3 in Congo do not disrupt it.
On the part of the USA, it is clear that the country is pursuing its own interests in the acquisition of precious minerals and in continuing cooperation with the Governments of Rwanda and Qatar in business matters, and that the refugee issue is not its primary concern. That is why we, in Rwandan civil society, believe that in implementing these agreements, the issue of Rwandan refugees and the Congolese people must be taken into account. We call on all parties that signed these agreements to ensure that the issue of these refugees is also permanently resolved.
The agreement of 4.12.2025 does not provide a mechanism for prosecuting and punishing those responsible for the killing and abuse of innocent DRC citizens and Rwandan refugees, as approved by the UN Security Council.
For the DRC government, the country urgently needs to restore its territorial integrity and inviolability. The government should ask the US to allow minerals to be mined and refined within its territory, rather than being shipped to Rwanda, as long as the two countries do not truly reconcile and pledge not to engage in hostilities (war). In its wisdom, the DRC government should clearly understand what the US is trying to achieve and ask it to implement these demands in a tangible way.
4. What CASCR demands
As the agreements do not give Rwandan refugees the opportunity to speak out about the injustices they face, and the facts that the Rwandan authorities are the ones who claim that refugees are undermining the security of the country, CASCR members request the following:
1° The Governments of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) must provide adequate security for Rwandan refugees and prepare a pathway for them to return to Rwanda in peace and freedom, without any obstacles or disputes.
2° The United States of America (USA), as the mediator between the two parties, after noting that the Government of Rwanda and M23/AFC are not respecting these agreements, should now listen to the voice of Rwandan refugees in order to help them return, and should order the Government of Rwanda to eliminate all causes of refugeeism, because living in their own country is their inalienable right. CASCR members condemn the lies of the Rwandan government and the M23/AFC groups claiming that they have left the city of Uvira, as this is a way to deceive the international community. The US government is therefore requested to demand the M23/AFC to withdraw from all places they have taken by force (Uvira, Goma, Bukavu, and elsewhere) without any further conditions.
3° We call on all Rwandan and international organizations that advocate for human rights, justice, unity, and genuine reconciliation among Rwandans; journalists; and other civil society activists for democracy to join us in the activities of CASCR so that WE CAN JOIN OUR STRENGTHS, WORK TOGETHER, AND HAVE THE POWER to protect Rwandan citizens wherever they are, and refugees in particular, especially those in the DRC who have continued to be deprived of security due to the war in that country since 1996.
Done in Belgium
CASCR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1 M23:March 23 Movement. AFC: Congo River Alliance
2 PRESS RELEASE No. 2/CASCR/2025 of 20/03/2025 Condemnation of the murders committed by the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) in association with those of the M23 terrorist movement against Congolese people and Rwandan refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 1994.
3 Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda