Tensions between Rwanda and South Africa have escalated following a statement made by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on X formally know as Twitter regarding the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Ramaphosa mourned the loss of 13 South African soldiers who died in recent clashes with rebel groups in the DRC, specifically the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), which have been engaged in violent conflict with the DRC’s government forces.
Ramaphosa condemned the M23 and RDF for their role in the violence, referring to the attacks as a “direct escalation” that resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), as well as personnel from the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). He emphasized South Africa’s commitment to peace in the region, stating, “The situation in Goma and Sake… remains very tense, volatile and unpredictable.”
“We honour the lives lost and offer our deepest condolences to their families,” Ramaphosa added, expressing South Africa’s full support for the families of the deceased soldiers and vowing to bring peace to the region through SAMIDRC’s continued presence.
The South African president urged the international community to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC, while calling for the exit of foreign forces, including the RDF, from the conflict.
However, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame swiftly responded to these comments, describing them as “distortions” and “deliberate attacks.” Kagame, who replied to president Ramaphosa’s post , claimed that the statements misrepresented the situation in the DRC, accusing South Africa of misleading the public about Rwanda’s role in the conflict.
“I held two conversations this week with President Ramaphosa on the situation in Eastern DRC, including earlier today,” Kagame said. “What has been said about these conversations in the media contains a lot of distortion, deliberate attacks, and even lies.”
Kagame addressed several points raised by Ramaphosa, including the characterization of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) as a militia. “The Rwanda Defence Force is an army, not a militia,” Kagame declared. He also rejected the notion that SAMIDRC is a peacekeeping force, describing it as a “belligerent force” that had displaced the true peacekeeping body, the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF).
In a pointed rebuttal, Kagame emphasized the responsibility of the DRC’s government forces, not the M23, for the deaths of the South African soldiers. “President Ramaphosa confirmed to me that M23 did not kill the soldiers from South Africa. FARDC did,” Kagame said, referring to the Congolese Armed Forces.
Kagame also underscored Rwanda’s position in the ongoing conflict, warning that if South Africa seeks confrontation, Rwanda is prepared to handle it. “If South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day,” Kagame remarked.
The diplomatic spat comes as the DRC’s eastern provinces remain embroiled in one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts, with M23 capturing Goma a key town in the north Kivu locateed in the eastern part of the country. Multiple rebel groups and foreign forces are involved in the violence. Despite international efforts to broker peace, including through the Luanda Process and the Nairobi Process, the situation remains dire, with tens of thousands of civilians displaced by the ongoing fighting.
The statements by both leaders signal deepening divisions between the two countries, which have historically had complex relations, particularly regarding security concerns in the Great Lakes region. South Africa has been a major player in peacekeeping efforts in the DRC, while Rwanda has been accused by some of supporting the M23 rebel group.
As the situation in the DRC continues to deteriorate, the prospects for peace remain uncertain, and the diplomatic rhetoric between Rwanda and South Africa is likely to remain heated in the days ahead.
