Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the involvement of foreign forces in eastern DR Congo, including the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) SAMIDRC mission and the FDLR militia, accusing them of targeting Rwanda. The statement, issued on February 1, rejected accusations from the January 31 SADC summit that the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) had attacked Congolese forces and SAMIDRC troops in the region.
Rwanda’s government emphasized that the RDF’s role is to protect the nation’s borders and civilians, not to launch attacks on other forces. Tensions mounted following the January 29 capture of Goma by the M23 rebel group, which fueled regional concerns.
Rwanda has been critical of the South Africa-led SAMIDRC mission, deployed to assist DR Congo’s government in its fight against the M23. Rwanda claims that SAMIDRC’s mission supports DR Congo in efforts to destabilize the region and attack Rwanda. Alongside SAMIDRC, coalition partners such as Burundian forces, the FDLR, and European mercenaries are accused of exacerbating the violence and harming civilians.
Intelligence gathered from Goma indicates that the foreign forces, including the FDLR, have been involved in preparing to attack Rwanda, in addition to targeting M23 rebels. Rwanda argues that SAMIDRC’s presence in the region only worsens the existing conflict.
