The United States has called on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to urgently dismantle the FDLR armed group, in line with commitments under the Washington agreement signed between Rwanda and the DRC in late 2025.
The call was made on April 15, 2026, by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Tammy K. Bruce during the 10,136th meeting of the UN Security Council on peace and security in the Great Lakes region.
Ambassador Bruce said Kinshasa must immediately dismantle the FDLR, including in areas under its control, warning that failure to comply could trigger further measures.
“The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo must fulfill its commitment to immediately and fully dismantle the FDLR in areas under its control. Addressing its security concerns is essential to break the cycle of mistrust that has fuelled conflict for years. We are prepared to consider additional measures against those undermining peace,” she said.
She stressed that actors undermining peace should expect consequences, adding that the United States remains committed to advancing stability and development in the Great Lakes region.
The statement comes amid recent announcements by DRC military officials regarding operations said to target the FDLR, which Rwanda has previously dismissed as ineffective, citing a lack of tangible results.
So far, no confirmed arrests or dismantling of FDLR positions have been reported, with continued reports of instability linked to ongoing conflict involving AFC/M23 in eastern DRC.
During the same Security Council session, Rwanda’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Robert Kayinamura, reiterated that lasting peace in the Great Lakes region cannot be achieved while the FDLR continues to operate in eastern DRC.
He told the Council that addressing root causes of insecurity remains essential, including hate speech, violence against civilians, and attacks targeting Kinyarwanda-speaking communities, particularly the Banyamulenge.
