Kigali, Rwanda – January 30, 2025
Tensions between Rwanda and South Africa have intensified after Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused South African President Cyril Ramaphosa of distorting facts about the ongoing conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Kagame expressed frustration over what he described as deliberate attacks and lies in public statements made by Ramaphosa and South African officials regarding their recent discussions on the crisis. He stated that while he had engaged in two conversations with Ramaphosa this week, including one earlier today, the way these talks were later presented to the media was vastly different from what was actually said.
In his response, Kagame rejected the portrayal of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) as a militia, emphasizing that it is a national army. He criticized the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), arguing that it is not a peacekeeping force but rather a belligerent military operation authorized by SADC to conduct offensive combat missions on behalf of the Congolese government (FARDC). He accused SAMIDRC of working alongside the FDLR, a group hostile to Rwanda, while also threatening to bring war into Rwanda itself. Kagame also claimed that SAMIDRC contributed to the failure of diplomatic negotiations by replacing the East African Community Regional Force, which had been tasked with peacekeeping.
He dismissed the notion that Ramaphosa had issued any kind of warning to Rwanda, suggesting instead that Ramaphosa’s actual request was for assistance in ensuring South African forces had access to electricity, food, and water, something that Rwanda has agreed to help facilitate. Kagame further alleged that during their discussions, Ramaphosa personally confirmed that the South African soldiers who were killed in the DRC were not victims of M23 rebels or the RDF, but rather of the Congolese army (FARDC) itself.
Ramaphosa’s statement, issued on Monday, presented a starkly different view. He expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of 13 South African soldiers, attributing their deaths to an escalation of fighting involving M23 rebels and RDF militia against the Congolese army (FARDC). He framed South Africa’s military presence in the Eastern DRC as a peacekeeping mission under the mandates of both SADC and the United Nations, reaffirming that South Africa is not at war with any country but is committed to peace and stability in the region.
Ramaphosa also honored the fallen South African troops, as well as those from Malawi, Tanzania, and the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, while ensuring that all necessary support is being provided to their families. He acknowledged that the security situation in Goma and Sake remains volatile and unpredictable, but emphasized that South African forces remain well-equipped and supported. He urged South Africans to rally behind their troops and warned against speculation about their conditions.
The South African president reiterated that the territorial integrity of the DRC must be respected under international law and called for an immediate end to hostilities, a withdrawal of external forces, and the resumption of peace talks under the Nairobi Process. He also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to the Luanda Process agreements aimed at achieving lasting peace.
Kagame, however, dismissed South Africa’s role as a peacemaker, stating that if South Africa prefers confrontation over diplomacy, Rwanda is prepared to handle the situation accordingly. The sharp exchange between the two leaders highlights growing tensions between Kigali and Pretoria, raising concerns about further escalation in an already unstable region.
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