The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has sprang up in defense of the son of the late Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana, portraying him as a proponent of peace and reconciliation in a troubled region.
This is in reaction to Rwandan allegations linking Jean-Luc Habyarimana to the FDLR rebel movement.
Congolese Minister of Communication and Media Patrick Muyaya Katembwe outlined the government’s stance in an interview published Thursday by the Ministry of Communication.
According to Muyaya, Jean-Luc Habyarimana and his family were themselves victims of the violence that preceded the Rwandan genocide. He stressed the need for comprehensive remembrance efforts for the families of both President Habyarimana and the Burundian president who died in the Falcon jet crash that triggered the 1994 mass slaughter of Tutsis and moderate Hutus, insisting that justice must be served.
The minister stated that Jean-Luc Habyarimana has never been involved in armed movements nor sought to overthrow the Rwandan government. Contrary to claims by Rwandan authorities, he described him as a political figure committed to peace and national reconciliation rather than a war leader.
Muyaya also rejected Kigali’s accusations linking Habyarimana to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) or other armed groups operating in eastern DRC, calling them “false and recycled.” He argued that such claims have repeatedly been used to justify Rwandan interventions on Congolese territory.
He further noted that the DRC hosted hundreds of thousands of Rwandan refugees fleeing the 1994 violence and has consistently pursued a policy focused on peace and reconciliation.
The minister concluded by reaffirming that Jean-Luc Habyarimana’s role aligns with broader reconciliation efforts, and that the DRC views his actions as contributing to regional peace, contrary to Kigali’s interpretation.
AC/Sf/lb/as/APA