The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army has launched a new disarmament campaign against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia tied to perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in a move seen as critical to advancing a U.S.-brokered peace process with Rwanda.
The operation comes two weeks after Congolese and Rwandan officials met in Washington to revive commitments under a peace deal signed last June. It also follows recent U.S. sanctions against Rwanda’s defence forces over alleged support for the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Congo.
The FDLR, based in eastern Congo, includes remnants of Rwanda’s former army and militias responsible for the 1994 genocide. Kigali has long insisted that dismantling the group is a prerequisite for lasting stability between the two countries.
Lieutenant General Nduru Jacques Ychaligonza, deputy chief of staff of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC), said preparations for the operation were underway in the northeastern city of Kisangani.
“They must hand over their weapons, willingly or by force,” Ychaligonza told reporters, adding that the initial phase would prioritise voluntary surrender. “We do not need bloodshed.”
Authorities have established a reception site in Kisangani for fighters who disarm, with plans to eventually repatriate them to Rwanda.
Tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali remain high. Rwanda has repeatedly accused Congo of cooperating with the FDLR, while Congo accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebellion, which seized large areas of eastern territory during a rapid offensive last year. Rwanda denies supporting the group.
The announcement comes as M23 fighters have withdrawn from several villages in North Kivu’s Lubero territory in recent days, according to provincial authorities. A spokesperson for the group described the movements as routine troop rotations.
Despite last year’s agreement, which commits Congo to dismantle the FDLR and Rwanda to withdraw its forces, clashes have continued across multiple fronts in eastern Congo.