Rwandan President Paul Kagame has strongly rejected accusations from his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, that Rwanda is backing the M23 rebels, a group that has exacerbated the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a heated response on January 30, Kagame labelled Ramaphosa’s claims as “lies” and warned of potential confrontation if such statements continue. This diplomatic clash comes as South Africa faces mounting pressure following the deaths of 13 soldiers in a recent surge of violence involving the M23 militia, which captured parts of the strategic city of Goma in North Kivu province.
Ramaphosa had initially blamed the M23 and a “Rwandan Defence Force militia” for the South African casualties, while his Defence minister, Angie Motshekga, escalated tensions by suggesting that South Africa would consider any further attacks on its forces as a “declaration of war.”
These remarks have caused a significant diplomatic fallout, with Kagame swiftly retaliating by asserting that the Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) is not a militia, but a legitimate national Army. He further dismissed South Africa’s role as a peacekeeper, accusing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops of engaging in offensive combat operations rather than peacekeeping.
The conflict in eastern Congo, which borders Rwanda, has deep historical roots, with tensions linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Rwanda maintains that the M23’s actions are partly driven by the threat posed by genocidal forces that fled into Congo after the massacre. However, South African officials, including Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, have pointed the finger at Rwanda, citing UN reports that allegedly confirm Kigali’s backing of the M23 rebels. As the conflict continues to unfold, both countries have used international forums like the African Union to air their positions, while calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a halt to external support for the rebels. The situation remains precarious as Rwanda and South Africa continue their war of words amidst escalating violence in the region.