Gen Gakwerere, the FDLR Scapegoat: Rwanda’s Staged Propaganda Amidst Growing Western Sanctions

Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) has announced the capture of 14 individuals it claims are fighters of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group opposed to the Rwandan regime. These individuals were allegedly apprehended in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by M23 rebels, a proxy force backed by Kigali, which has been occupying territories in eastern Congo.

The Congolese government has categorically rejected Rwanda’s narrative, denouncing it as a fabrication aimed at justifying the ongoing military occupation of Congolese land. In a statement issued by the Congolese army (FARDC), Kinshasa described this claim as part of Rwanda’s long-standing strategy to portray itself as a victim while simultaneously expanding its influence in the region. The FARDC further emphasized that the so-called FDLR fighters handed over by M23 were in reality former detainees from Rwanda’s Gitarama prison, dressed in new FARDC military uniforms to create a false narrative of capture.

One of the most glaring inconsistencies in Rwanda’s narrative revolves around the identity of the supposed key figure in this operation. The RDF press release mentions a Brigadier General Jean-Baptiste Gakwerere, while Rwandan state-aligned media, with an old passport as evidence, refer to Brigadier General Ézéchiel Gakwerere. This contradiction raises significant doubts about the legitimacy of the entire operation. Further confusion arises from the details of Gakwerere’s place of birth: before the press, he stated he was born in Kanyinya, Shyorongi commune, Kigali Rural Prefecture, whereas the Rwandan media displayed a passport indicating he was born in Rukara commune, Kibungo Prefecture, in 1964.

Sources from within RDF, corroborated by Rwandan refugees in the DRC, indicate that RDF and M23 forces stumbled upon Ézéchiel Gakwerere on February 6, 2025, in Goma. Weakened and convalescent for three years, he did not resist his arrest. He was detained alongside his caregiver and subsequently transferred to a safe house run by Rwanda’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in Goma, where he has reportedly been subjected to torture for several weeks. The RDF only publicly announced his capture after more than a month of interrogation.

The official narrative pushed by Rwanda suggests that Gakwerere was leading an active FDLR unit at the time of his arrest. However, multiple sources, including a former Rwandan police officer, claim that since 2001, Gakwerere has been an informant for Kagame’s intelligence services in the DRC, frequently visiting Gisenyi (Rubavu) under the alias ‘Bolingo.’ The presence of other captured individuals, such as Major Gilbert Ndayambaje, further weakens Kigali’s claims. Most of them are reportedly members of Wazalendo or other local armed groups rather than the FDLR.

The staged spectacle of these so-called FDLR fighters serves as a tool for Kigali to counter growing international pressure over its occupation of eastern Congo. By presenting captured fighters as a security threat, Kagame seeks to maintain his justification for Rwanda’s continued interference in the region. However, the international community has grown increasingly skeptical of Kigali’s pretexts, particularly as M23 advances towards key Congolese cities like Bukavu and Goma, leaving behind a trail of massacres and looted resources.

The ongoing crisis in eastern DRC has exposed Rwanda’s deeper ambitions. Despite Kagame’s claims of ensuring security, his government’s real objective remains the annexation of Congolese territories rich in minerals. While Kigali spends exorbitant sums on international lobbying to polish Kagame’s image and present Rwanda as an economic success story, the country remains heavily dependent on foreign aid and has accrued significant debt. Unable to sustain its economy solely through internal means, Rwanda continues to plunder DRC’s natural resources to maintain financial stability.

Diplomatic analysts argue that these orchestrated media spectacles will not shield Kagame from the mounting pressure of his former Western backers. The United States and the United Kingdom, once strong supporters of Kagame, have begun to question his regional policies and have even hinted at cutting aid. Unless Kagame swiftly withdraws his troops and M23 forces from Congolese territory, Rwanda will face increasing isolation on the international stage, rendering its propaganda efforts futile in the face of undeniable realities on the ground.