Rwanda

Africa Faith and Justice Network Welcomes the Democratic Republic of the Congo – the Republic of Rwanda Peace Agreement, Urges Caution and Vigilance

December 4, 2025

We are writing to bring to your attention the grave humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the Rwandan government has been violating the country’s territorial integrity. The Rwandan military has been using the March 23 (M23) rebel group, a Congolese Tutsi-led movement, to occupy key areas, including the recent occupation of North Kivu capital, Goma on January 23, 2025. This is the latest in a series of violent aggressions since M23 resumed its armed conflict against the DRC in early 2022.

The DRC–Rwanda Peace Agreement: Promise on Paper, Questions on the Ground

December 4, 2025

Today, December 4, 2025, Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda authenticated a long-awaited peace agreement—which many hope will usher in a new era of stability in a region marked by decades of conflict, displacement, and silent suffering. Peace is always worth pursuing. But not all peace agreements are created equal, and some carry within them the seeds of future instability.

Press Release: AFJN Calls on Congress for US Action Against Rwanda’s Violation of Territorial Integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

January 31, 2025

Washington, DC – On January 31, 2025, the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) issued a call to action, sending a letter “Urgent Call for U.S. Action Against Rwanda’s Violation of DRC’s Territorial Integrity” to the United States (US) Secretary of State, and members of Congress. The letter appeals for immediate U.S. intervention to alleviate the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), sparked by worsening hostilities between the DRC armed forces and the Rwandan army allied to the M23 armed group. This crisis has intensified following M23’s takeover of Goma and expansion into South Kivu, prompting AFJN to warn of a looming “grave and humanitarian crisis” if the U.S. does not act.

AFJN’s Urgent Call for U.S. Action Against Rwanda’s Violation of DRC’s Territorial Integrity

January 31, 2025

We are writing to bring to your attention the grave humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the Rwandan government has been violating the country’s territorial integrity. The Rwandan military has been using the March 23 (M23) rebel group, a Congolese Tutsi-led movement, to occupy key areas, including the recent occupation of North Kivu capital, Goma on January 23, 2025. This is the latest in a series of violent aggressions since M23 resumed its armed conflict against the DRC in early 2022.

AFJN Letter to US Secretary of State for Lasting Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

August 8, 2022

Ahead of your August 2022 meetings with leaders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) (a non-partisan coalition of 28 US-based religious communities) urges frank discussions on the following issues: Rwanda’s violations of DRC’s territorial integrity, bad governance in the DRC, and reasons why the UN peacekeepers should leave.

A Look at Free Trade in Africa- The African Continental Free Trade Area

July 24, 2018

  In March, 55 nations of the African Union joined in Kigali, Rwanda to discuss the possibility of an open trade agreement throughout the continent. Free trade and free movement…

Can Rwanda win an economic war against the US?

May 7, 2018

President Paul Kagame believes that to grow the garment industry in his country, his compatriots should wear clothes made in Rwanda. However, this cannot happen without doing something about the…

Rwanda’s Largest Solar Field Also Empowers Orphans

September 15, 2017

To increase electricity access in Rwanda, a 42-acre solar field was constructed on land leased from Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village 60 kilometers from Kigali. The youth village is a boarding school…

Harvesting to Heal

August 18, 2017

Three years following the Rwandan genocide, Sr. Mary Rose Mukukibogo founded the farming association Dususuruke to revitalize the agricultural economy. In the local language of Kinyarwanda, Dususuruke means “warm solidarity.”…

Rwandan Women Healing the Nation Post-Genocide

June 29, 2017

On June 26, 2017, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) held an event titled “Women Guiding Peace After War: Lessons from Rwanda.” The panel discussed the incredible progress women…

Listening to Heal a Nation

June 2, 2017

The Benebikira Sisters, the oldest indigenous congregation in Rwanda, have a number of nuns in their community referred to as “Sister Listeners.” Their job is simply to listen – to…

U.S. Congress: Don’t Cut Funding for Voice of America’s Central Africa Service Kirundi/Kinyarwanda Program

May 6, 2015

In a letter to members of the Budget Committee in the House and Senate about the proposal to cut all funding for Voice of America’s Central Africa Service Kirundi/Kinyarwanda radio…

Washington Must Reexamine its Relations with Kigali

March 12, 2014

Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a press release today (March 12, 2014) to bring attention to the “Killings of Rwandan Regime Critics Abroad”. In…

Oxford University: Rwanda President Kagame is controversial, but welcome

May 23, 2013

Oxford University distanced itself from Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s presence on campus. He was invited by Oxford Business Network for Africa to attend their conference at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School on May 18, 2013. Characterizing President Kagame as a “controversial figure”, the university said that “this invitation and President Kagame’s presence in the Saïd Business School does not imply any endorsement by the School or the University of his views or actions.”

NGOs letter to President Obama: U.S. quiet diplomacy to address Rwandan involvement in eastern D. R. Congo failed

December 13, 2012

AFJN is one of the signatories of this letter December 10, 2012 President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As the…

Congress Hearing on Rwanda’s devastating destabilization of the D.R.Congo

December 12, 2012

In his testimony, Mr. Steve Hege, Former Coordinator of the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) told Congress that: “We found that since the very outset of the M23 rebellion, the Government of Rwanda has provided direct military support to M23, facilitated recruitment, encouraged desertions from the Congolese army, and delivered arms, ammunition, intelligence and political advice to the rebels.”

The attitude of the bullies [the West] must be challenged

October 8, 2012

On October 4, 2012, in a speech to parliament, Rwandan President Paul Kagame made clear his position on D.R.Congo-Rwanda crisis. Though the occasion was the launch of 2012-2013 as the Judicial…

Western Countries Raise Pressure on President Kagame of Rwanda

August 9, 2012

On August 3rd, members of the US House of Representatives sent a letter to Rwandan President Paul Kagame saying that: “[t]he conflict in eastern Congo and Rwanda’s role in it deeply troubles…

U.S. Legislators’ letter to President Kagame urging him to stop destabilizing the D.R. Congo

August 3, 2012

Read the full letter here August 3, 2012 Dear President Kagame: We are writing as a bipartisan group of legislators to express our deep concern about the recent and growing conflict…

AFJN Featured in San Francisco Bay View: National Black Newspaper

July 21, 2012

On July 7, 2012, the Africa Faith and Justice Network was mentioned in Mary Ratcliff’s article “U.S. cuts aid to Rwanda for destabilizing Congo” featured in the San Francisco Bay…