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

Mu kiganiro n’inyandiko nise « Ni iyihe mpinduka izacyemura burundu ikibazo cy’impunzi z’abanyarwanda«  narangije mvuga ko abanyarwanda bari muri Sosiyete sivili bakwiye kwunganira abanyepolitiki mu nzego z’ubuyobozi bw’igihugu zirebana n’imilimo bakora irengera inyungu rusange z’abanyarwanda, kugirango bazashobore gusohoza intego yo guhuza no kubanisha neza abanyarwanda bose mu gihugu cyabo, kuko abanyepolitiki bo mu mashyaka batashoboye kuyisohoza. Narangije ngira nti:

« Iyo mpinduka yagerwaho ite, yashyirwa ite mu bikorwa? » Muri iyi nyandiko n’ibiganiro bizakurikiraho, turakomeza kurebera hamwe uko byagenda.

Bimwe mu byo abanyepoliti bo mu mashyaka n’abanyarwanda bagize Sosiyete sivili bahuriraho ni uko bose bavuga ko barengera Rubanda kandi bakanaharanira ko abanyarwanda bose bareshya imbere y’amategeko. Nyamara wareba ugasanga, mu by’ukuri, n’abo ubwabo batareshya imbere y’ayo mategeko. Koko rero, birazwi neza ko abanyepolitiki bo mu mashyaka ari bo bonyine bayobora imilimo yose irebana n’ubutegetsi bw’Igihugu, harimo ndetse n’iyo abagize sosiyete sivili bakora mu milimo biyemeje mu buryo bwo kurengera Rubanda. Urugero rumwe natanga ni imilimo ijyanye n’ubutabera. Ntibyumvikana ukuntu Ministeri y’ubutabera yategekwa n’ishyaka rya politiki riri no muri Guvernoma, mu gihe bizwi neza ko abanyarwannda banyuranye bari mu mashyirahamwe n’abikorera ku giti cyabo muri Sosiyete sivili aribo baharanira buri munsi uburenganzira bw’ikiremwamuntu hamwe n’ubwo butabera. Kuki Ubutabera bwayoborwa n’umunyepolitiki kandi bizwi neza ko abacamanza badakora politiki ? Ubutabera buyobowe n’abanyepolitiki bwakwigenga bute?

Ubwo busumbane hagati y’abagize umuryango wa Sosiyete sivili n’abagize umuryango w’amashyaka ya politiki ni bwo butuma abari muri ayo mashyaka bagira ingufu nyinshi, bakwumva ko bari hejuru y’abandi banyarwanda, kugera naho bamwe ndetse bishyira hejuru y’amategeko. Bakabikora bitwaje ya mpamvu yuko ngo amashyaka ari yo yonyine yemerewe kujya mu butegetsi. Ibyo ni bimwe mu bituma bamwe mu bagize ayo mashyaka, iyo bageze kuri ubwo butegetsi, bakandamiza abanyarwanda bo muri sosiyete sivili barwanya akarengane abo bategetsi bakorera Rubanda. Ni uko ba baturage bakabura kirengera kuko sosiyete sivili ibura ingufu zo guhagarika ako karengane. Amabaruwa n’amaraporo y’intababaza yohererezwa abo banyepolitiki b’abanyagihugu cyangwa b’abanyamahanga, agafungiranwa mu bubati bw’ibiro byabo, yamara gutora uruhumbu bakayashyingura burundu. Kandi koko, ngo « ntawe urega uwo aregaho ! » Mu buryo bwo kwamagana ako karengane nanone, abagize sosiyete sivili bakajya mu mihanda, ariko nabyo bakabizira, kandi kwigaragambya ari uburenganzira bwabo bahabwa n’amategeko.

Ibibazo by’ubusumbane hagati y’amoko nita ko ari aya politiki, ni ukuvuga ya yandi y’bahutu, abatutsi n’abatwa, nabyo ni aho biva. Muti gute? Ku ngoma za Cyami, umuryango w’abanyepolitiki (classe politique) wari ugizwe n’abatutsi, naho abahutu n’abatwa bakaba abo bitaga Rubanda « rugufi ». Aho ya ngengabitekerezo twigishijwe ivuga ko ngo abahutu n’abatwa ari « bagufi » naho abatutsi ngo bakaba « barebare » ntiyaba ari aho ikomoka? Icyo gihe rero nta munyarwanda watinyukaga kwamagana akarengane kakorwaga n’abo bategetsi. Mu gihe igihugu cyabonaga ubwigenge, Rubanda rw’abahutu rwari rwarakandamijwe, rwaricajwe kuko rwari rwaragizwe rugufi, rwiyemeje guhaguruka maze rurahagarara, ruharanira narwo kujya mu butegetsi, kugirango rwirengere. Abo bahutu bamaze gufata ubutegetsi ariko nabo bicaje ba batutsi, babahindura Rubanda Rugufi. Ubusumbane hagati y’abanyarwanda burakomeza.

Buri mwaka twizihiza isabukuru y’ubwigenge bw’Urwanda kuko rutakiyobowe n’ibihugu by’amahanga. Nyamara Rubanda ntiyigeze ibona ubwigenge kugeza ubu kuko yakomeje gukandamizwa na bamwe mu banyepolitiki b’abanyarwanda bishyira hejuru y’amategeko nkuko nabivuze. Wavuga ute ko abaturage bigenga mu gihe bakubitwa ibiboko kandi nta gihano cyo gukubitwa kibaho mu mategeko y’URwanda? Tubyibazeho. Muri Werurwe 1957 hatangiye révolution y’abahutu yageze ku ntsinzi muri mutarama 1961, naho mu Ukwakira 1990 hatangira iy’abatutsi yageze ku ntsinzi muri Nyakanga 1994. Mwari muzi ko izo révolutions zombi zakozwe mu gihe kingana? Imyaka 3 n’amezi icumi, hafi imyaka ine ! Muri 1994, bamwe mu bahutu bishe abatutsi bahinduye zeru révolution yabo. Ya révolution y’abatutsi nayo, bamwe muri abo batutsi nabo bari kuyihindura zero. Politiki ishingiye ku moko, iyariyo yose rero, irisenya. Abarota ko ngo kugabana ubutegetsi hakurikijwe amoko y’abahutu, abatutsi n’abatwa ari byo byavanaho ubusumbane bw’abanyarwanda rero, nabo bamenye ko bibeshya, kuko ubwo butegetsi nabwo bwahita bwisenya. Noneho, umenya nta n’umunyarwanda wasigara! Biragaragara rero ko dukeneye indi révolution ariko ikozwe n’abanyarwanda twese kandi idashingiye ku moko ya politiki, ahubwo ishingiye ku mategeko n’amahame mpuzamahanga arengera uburenganzira bw’ikiremwamuntu. Iyo ni yo politiki izarama, igakiza abanyarwanda kuko izatuma Rubanda rubona ubwigenge nyabwo.

Kuvuka kw’amashyaka ya politiki muri Repubulika byakurikiweho no kuvuka kw’imiryango ya Sosiyete sivili itabogamiye ku butegetsi. Ayo mashyaka ya politiki nayo kandi yatangiye nk’amashyirahamwe. Nubwo amashyirahamwe macye yitwa ko atabogamiye kuri Leta yaje kuvuka ariko, ntabwo ijwi ryayo ryumvikanye cyane kuko abanyepolitiki bose bagiye ku butegetsi, baba abiyita cyangwa abitwa abahutu cyangwa abatutsi, bakomeje gukandamiza Rubanda rugufi nkuko nabivuze. Ni uko abanyepoliti batari ku butegetsi nabo (opposition) bagafatwa nk’abanzi kuko batavuga rumwe n’ababuriho baba batinya kubuvaho ngo nabo badahinduka Rubanda rugufi. Ibibazo hagati y’abategetsi ni aho biva. Kugeza ubu, byaragaragaye ko ibibazo by’ayo mashyaka ari ibibazo by’ubutegetsi. Nkuko mpora mbivuga, icyo abanyepolitiki bapfa ni nacyo bapfana, ni: ubutegetsi. Iyo badasangiye ubutegetsi barashyamirana, ariko babusangira bakwumvikana. Muri demukarasi amashyaka menshi ni ngombwa, ariko igisubizo cy’akarengane k’abanyarwanda ntikigomba gushakirwa mu gushinga uruhuli rw’amashyaka cyangwa kugabana imyanya y’ubutegetsi hakurikijwe amashyaka ya politiki gusa. Niyo abagize ayo mashyaka babugabana mu buryo bwiza bumvikanyeho, ibyo si byo byonyine byaha Rubanda icyizere cy’amahoro.

Muri iki gihe tugezemo, umuntu yavuga ko Rubanda « rugufi » igizwe na ba banyarwanda batagira ijambo, batemerewe kuvuga ibibi ubutegetsi bukora, badafite uburenganzira bw’ibanze amahame mpuzamahanga arengera ikiremwamuntu abemerera, bari muri ya moko ya politiki uko ari atatu ndetse n’abatarayamenya n’abatayemera. Ku byerekeranye n’ayo moko ya politiki navuze, ikibazo ni uko abahutu cyangwa abatutsi bafashe ubutegetsi bashaka kwumvisha abaturage bahuje ubwo bwoko ko ubutegetsi bafite nabo ari ubwabo, kandi atari byo, ni uko bakabeshyera abo badahuje ubwoko ko ari bo ba nyirabayazana b’ibibazo byose, bakivanaho ibibazo bakabishyira ku bandi, kandi ari bo bafite ubutegetsi. Rubanda rugufi nayo, kubera kutagira ubushishozi (manipulé), igakurikira. Akazi ka Sosiyete sivili ni aha kari, ni ukuba ijwi n’ijisho bya Rubanda. Impunzi z’abanyarwanda zirimo amoko yose. Kubera impamvu za politiki kandi, ari abatutsi, ari abahutu, ari n’abatwa barishwe, abandi barafungwa. Mu by’ukuri rero, nta na rimwe abanyarwanda bigeze bareshya imbere y’amategeko, kuko politiki zayoboye igihugu zose zagiye zisumbanya abanyarwanda.

Tuzi neza ko abanyepolitiki bafata bamwe mu bayoboke ba sosiyete sivile bakabashyira mu butegetsi bamaze kubandikisha mu mashyaka yabo ako kanya. Kuki abo bayoboke batakora politiki yo kurengera Rubanda batarinze kuva muri sosiyete sivili barimo? Ibyo si byo byaba byiza aho kujya gukora no kuvuga ibitandukanye n’ibyo bavugaga kandi bakoraga batarayivamo ? Nyamara amashyaka ya politiki nayo ni amashyirahamwe ! Umuco wa politiki twazaniwe n’abazungu uvuga ko ngo amashyaka ari yo yemerewe gukora politiki gusa urashaje. Na ndetse muri iki gihe, n’abo banyamahanga b’abahanga muri demokarasi twawurebeyeho bari kuwuvugurura iwabo. Twe dutegereje iki? Iwacu i Rwanda naho rero, ni ko bikwiye kugenda, ariko tukabikora mu buryo bubereye abanyarwanda, tutiganye abo banyamahanga. Bityo, politiki y’abagize sosiyete sivili n’iy’abanyamashyaka zigatandukana ariko zikwuzuzanya. Ntangira kuvuga iki gitekerezo hari abambwiraga ko ndi kurota. Nyamara, ubu hari ibimenyetso bigaragaza neza ko iyo nzira ariyo turi kujyamo. Muri iki gihe hari abanyarwanda ku giti cyabo basigaye bakora politiki batarinze gushinga amashyaka, kandi ibitekerezo byabo bikumvikana neza. Hari abafite ibitekerezo by’iyo mpinduka ya politiki batangiye kubigaragaza, kandi batari mu mashyaka ya politiki. Umuntu avuze ko iyo impinduka ya gatatu yatangiye yaba abeshye? Ubwo buryo ni bwo nemera ko bushobora kutugeza ku mahoro nyayo kandi arambye. Iyo politiki nshya ni yo nita  »Politiki mpuzabanyarwanda » kuko ihuza abenegihugu aho kubatanya, kandi ikaba ariyo yageza Rubanda ku bwigenge nyakuri, bityo bakareshya imbere y’amategeko. Ntabwo abanyarwanda twese dushobora kujya mu mashyaka ya politiki, ariko abatayarimo bose bakwiye kwitabira iyo politiki mpuzabanyarwanda. Ibibazo bidasanzwe bicyemurwa koko n’umuti udasanzwe, kandi impinduka ikorwa n’ibitekerezo bishya !

Murakoze ndabashimiye, mugire amahoro, ni ah’ubutaha. 

MUSOMESHA Aloys, umuyobozi n’umuhuza w’Umushinga w’Ubwiyunge Nyakuri, umushinga wigenga kandi utabogamiye kuri politiki y’amashyaka n’ubutegetsi.

• Mushaka kumenya ibitekerezo bishya ku bwiyunge nyakuri, mukande hano (murebe inyandiko n’ibiganiro biri mu cyika cya mbere). Murabigezwaho na MUSOMESHA Aloys, umuyobozi n’umuhuza w’uyu mushinga. Musome kandi namwe musomeshe n’abandi, munabumvishe ibyo biganiro !
• Kureba vidéos no kwumva umuziki ku bwiyunge nyakuri, mukande hano.
• Kwumva ibiganiro birebana n’ubwiyunge nyakuri, mukande hano.

Résolution du Parlement européen du 6 oct 2016 – affaire Victoire Ingabire

Source: Résolution du Parlement européen sur le Rwanda: l’affaire Victoire Ingabire