Rwandan President Paul Kagame has denied any knowledge of his country’s troops being present in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese forces has killed over 900 people and injured thousands. In an exclusive CNN interview on Monday, Kagame was asked if Rwandan soldiers were operating in the DRC, to which he responded, “I don’t know.”
Despite international claims that Rwanda is backing the M23 rebels, who captured Goma last week, Kagame insisted that Rwanda would do anything to protect its security, though he did not provide details on any potential military actions. “If you want to ask me, is there a problem in Congo that concerns Rwanda? And that Rwanda would do anything to protect itself? I’d say 100%,” Kagame stated.
The UN has reported that as many as 900 bodies have been recovered from Goma since the violence began, with many in the international community pointing to Rwanda’s alleged role in supporting the rebels. UN experts estimate that 3,000 to 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are assisting the M23 fighters, outnumbering the rebel group’s forces in the region.
M23 spokesperson Victor Tesongo rejected claims of Rwandan support, instead focusing on Rwanda’s battle with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group aligned with the Congolese government. Tesongo called accusations of Rwandan involvement “a manipulation of public opinion.”
DRC communications minister Patrick Muyaya strongly countered Kagame’s claims, asserting that Rwanda’s military presence in the DRC is well-documented. “Kagame is the only voice denying this,” Muyaya said, referencing statements from UN experts, the UN Security Council, and other regional leaders.
In the same interview, Kagame was asked about comparisons between his actions and those of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been accused of supporting separatist groups in Ukraine. Kagame shrugged off the comparison, saying, “I may be called anything – what can I do about it? We have to do what we have to do.”
