Rwandan President Paul Kagame has sharply criticized South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent comments regarding the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In a tweet on January 29, Kagame responded to what he called misstatements and distortions made by South African officials and Ramaphosa himself, following their discussions about the situation in the DRC. According to Kagame, what was conveyed publicly differs significantly from the actual conversations held between the two leaders.
Kagame began by addressing several points he believed needed clarification, starting with a correction of South Africa’s characterization of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). He insisted that the RDF is an army, not a militia, as it was described in some media reports. Kagame also took issue with the role of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), calling it “not a peacekeeping force” but a “belligerent force” authorized by SADC to engage in offensive combat operations. He claimed that SAMIDRC’s involvement in the conflict has complicated the situation, particularly by displacing the East African Community Regional Force, which had been seen as a more legitimate peacekeeping force.
I held two conversations this week with President Ramaphosa on the situation in Eastern DRC, including earlier today. What has been said about these conversations in the media by South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself contains a lot of distortion, deliberate… https://t.co/i78aqtVjpr
— Paul Kagame (@PaulKagame) January 29, 2025Kagame also directly contested a statement made by Ramaphosa regarding the death of South African soldiers in the DRC. He stated that M23, a rebel group, was not responsible for the fatalities, as suggested by Ramaphosa, but rather the DRC’s own armed forces (FARDC).
The Rwandan president further criticized the content and tone of his conversations with Ramaphosa, specifically disputing claims of a “warning” issued by the South African leader. According to Kagame, Ramaphosa’s comments regarding South Africa’s role in the conflict were misleading and exaggerated. He did confirm, however, that South Africa had requested support to ensure that its forces had adequate resources, such as electricity, food, and water, which Rwanda would assist in communicating.
Kagame concluded by stating that while South Africa may contribute to peace efforts, it is not in a position to serve as a mediator or peacemaker in the DRC conflict. He warned that if South Africa seeks confrontation, Rwanda is prepared to address the matter accordingly.
Kagame’s response comes amid rising tensions between the two nations, further complicating efforts to address the ongoing crisis in the DRC, where multiple regional players are involved in a complex and volatile conflict.
