Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Martin Ngoga, embarrassed the representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the UN, Zénon Mukongo Ngay, after he attempted to portray his country as being more democratic than Rwanda.
On September 29, 2025, during a United Nations Security Council session, both Rwanda and the DRC were given the floor to express their views on the operations of UN peacekeeping forces in the DRC (MONUSCO).
Ambassador Ngoga pointed out that despite the many years of peacekeeping operations in the DRC, the UN troops had never dismantled the FDLR terrorist group, which poses a serious threat to Rwanda’s security and the wider region.
He highlighted that the DRC government had granted the FDLR areas of control and provided it with support, including weapons, and that the group has been collaborating with Congolese forces in the fight against M23, despite the DRC being fully aware that the terrorist group’s agenda is to destabilize Rwanda.
Ambassador Mukongo responded by saying that the FDLR consists of Rwandans, and therefore, for Rwanda to resolve this issue, it should engage in dialogue with the rebels claiming that this would be a democratic approach.
He said: “In Congo, we talk with opposition groups; we have democracy. Where is Rwanda’s democracy? Show me an opposition figure in Rwanda. The FDLR are Rwandans. If Rwanda truly wants peace with the FDLR, why not negotiate with them as fellow Rwandans?”
In response, Ambassador Ngoga reminded Mukongo that indeed the FDLR is made up of Rwandans, but they are the very perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, who still harbor the intent to continue killing and spreading genocide ideology. He stressed that instead of addressing this reality, the DRC government chooses to support them.
Ngoga also argued that although the DRC brags about being democratic, it is overwhelmed by countless challenges, stating:
“If the democracy my brother is talking about is what we see happening in the DRC, then that is not the kind of democracy Rwanda seeks.”
It should be recalled that on June 27, 2025, Rwanda and the DRC signed a peace agreement which included a clause requiring the dismantling of the FDLR. Three months later, the DRC government has yet to begin any operations to disband the group.
