Reports have emerged that President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the family of former Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana, currently based in France, are allegedly planning to destabilize Rwanda through the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) militia. This alleged plot could undermine the peace agreement that Rwanda and the DRC signed in June 2025 with support from the United States, which included a commitment to dismantle the FDLR.
The peace agreement, signed on June 27, 2025, in Washington, D.C., was intended to foster cooperation between the two countries in tackling regional security threats and ensuring the disbandment of armed groups operating across their shared border.
According to sources, the alleged alliance aims to strengthen the FDLR, a militia formed from remnants of those responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi. Plans reportedly include arming the group heavily, providing logistical support, recruiting new members, and installing new leadership. Jean-Luc Habyarimana, son of the late Juvénal Habyarimana, is said to be designated as the new overall commander of the FDLR.
Reliable reports indicate that Tshisekedi and the Habyarimana family intend to channel resources to the FDLR, facilitate the recruitment of new fighters, and restructure the group’s leadership, raising concerns over the stability of the peace deal and regional security.
