Statement on Remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at House Hearing

Kigali, 5 June 2026

The Government of Rwanda has taken note of the remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing of 4 June 2026, including his acknowledgment that Rwanda is fulfilling its commitments.

Rwanda appreciates the continued engagement of the United States, particularly through the Washington Accords, which remain the framework for addressing the root causes of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

However, it is important to recall that the obligations contained in the Washington Accords bind both Rwanda and the DRC and require accountability from all parties. The Accords cannot be implemented selectively, nor can obligations to be fulfilled by one party be separated from those to be fulfilled by the other. The problems cannot be solved by partiality.

Rwanda is implementing its commitments under the Accords. At the same time as DRC is in flagrant violation, through continued state support to the FDLR, a genocidal militia that has operated from Congolese territory for three decades, and remains a direct threat to Rwanda’s security, as well as the continued use of armed drones in civilian areas.

Rwanda remains fully committed to the Washington Accords and to working constructively with the United States, regional partners, and other stakeholders to advance peace, security, and prosperity in the Great Lakes region.

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