Minister Nduhungirehe confident Rwanda won’t be asked again to give passage to foreign mercenaries in DRC

Yisangize abandi

Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, has stated that Rwanda should not once again be asked to provide passage to mercenaries hired by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) when they are defeated by the M23 rebel group.

On January 29, 2025, more than 280 mercenaries fighting alongside the Congolese army against M23 in North Kivu were escorted back through Rwanda and boarded planes from Kigali to return home to Europe.

On September 29, DRC’s Minister of Interior, Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo, wrote on social media about “Blackwater,” the private military company linked to Erik Prince, a former U.S. Navy SEAL.

Minister Nduhungirehe pointed out that it is only in the DRC where a senior official like Shabani would make light of the use of mercenaries in his own country

something that contravenes international principles, including those of the United Nations and the African Union.

He stressed that after mercenaries, mostly Romanians, were exposed during battles in Goma in late January and later repatriated through Rwanda, the DRC government is now reportedly working with Colombian fighters under Blackwater.

Nduhungirehe explained that beyond violating international norms, the use of mercenaries goes against the spirit of the Washington peace agreements and the Doha principles, which were intended to help DRC achieve lasting peace.

“And I trust that Rwanda will not be asked again to help repatriate another wave of mercenaries…” he said.

There are growing fears that heavy fighting may soon resume, as M23 accuses the DRC army coalition which includes mercenaries of launching repeated attacks on civilians and areas under its control, while vowing to defend itself.

Areas recently attacked by the DRC coalition include Mpeti in Walikale Territory, Minjenje in Masisi, and Mikenke in Mwenga. These offensives reportedly involved the use of fighter aircraft and CH-4 drones.