A new statement from Jambo ASBL regarding the agreement to disarm and reintegrate FDLR fighters into civilian life has reinforced the view that the two sides have a close and open relationship.
Jambo ASBL was founded in Belgium in 2008. It is mainly composed of children of individuals who participated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and who share a narrative that denies or minimizes their parents’ role in those tragic events.
The organization has for years claimed to advocate for Rwandan refugees and to seek ways for them to return to Rwanda in accordance with international law. However, Rwanda has never prevented those who wish to return from doing so.
In addition to receiving civilians, Rwanda also accepts former members of armed groups operating in eastern DRC, including the FDLR. They are provided with training and other support to help them rebuild their lives and live peacefully alongside the communities they join.
The DRC government recently announced that it had reached an agreement with the FDLR for its fighters to lay down their weapons and be reintegrated into civilian life. Rwanda rejected the agreement, describing it as an attempt to divert attention from the continued cooperation between the two sides.
Rwanda Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo said: “We do not believe it because we can see what is happening. And we know that the FDLR leadership is not worried about the group being dismantled. They are not afraid of being sent to Rwanda because they know they are supported by the DRC.”
Rwanda has reminded the DRC government that its agreement with the FDLR is not provided for under the peace agreements signed by the two countries in Washington in June and December 2025, which were supported by the United States.
On August 6, Jambo ASBL welcomed the agreement signed between the FDLR and the DRC government, describing it as a “major political step” toward implementing the Washington Peace Agreement.
Jambo ASBL was founded in Belgium in 2008. It is mainly composed of children of individuals who participated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and who share a narrative that denies or minimizes their parents’ role in those tragic events.
The organization has for years claimed to advocate for Rwandan refugees and to seek ways for them to return to Rwanda in accordance with international law. However, Rwanda has never prevented those who wish to return from doing so.
In addition to receiving civilians, Rwanda also accepts former members of armed groups operating in eastern DRC, including the FDLR. They are provided with training and other support to help them rebuild their lives and live peacefully alongside the communities they join.
The DRC government recently announced that it had reached an agreement with the FDLR for its fighters to lay down their weapons and be reintegrated into civilian life. Rwanda rejected the agreement, describing it as an attempt to divert attention from the continued cooperation between the two sides.
Rwanda Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo said: “We do not believe it because we can see what is happening. And we know that the FDLR leadership is not worried about the group being dismantled. They are not afraid of being sent to Rwanda because they know they are supported by the DRC.”
Rwanda has reminded the DRC government that its agreement with the FDLR is not provided for under the peace agreements signed by the two countries in Washington in June and December 2025, which were supported by the United States.
On August 6, Jambo ASBL welcomed the agreement signed between the FDLR and the DRC government, describing it as a “major political step” toward implementing the Washington Peace Agreement.
The organization called on the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) and the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to protect Rwandans from what it described as forced repatriation.
What Jambo overlooked is that UNHCR and MONUSCO have been involved in efforts to facilitate the return of these Rwandans, reinforcing that there has been no violation of international law in the process.
The FDLR, an armed group described by Rwanda as a terrorist organization, has carried out numerous attacks against Rwanda and committed abuses in the DRC for many years, actions that officials in Kinshasa have acknowledged.
Of greater concern is the genocidal ideology that the founders and leaders of the FDLR brought with them into the DRC and have continued to spread across the region, raising concerns that they may still intend to repeat genocide.
The Rwandan government says the FDLR issue should not be treated as a refugee matter but as a security issue because of the group’s role in destabilizing the region.
Makolo stressed that FDLR fighters are not refugees but armed combatants who have maintained a genocidal ideology for many years, noting that the group’s founders participated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“These are not refugees. The FDLR is not a refugee group. They are armed fighters with a genocidal ideology.”
