Rwandan President Paul Kagame has issued a strong warning, stating that Rwanda is prepared for a confrontation with South Africa if necessary amid escalating tensions over the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). His remarks follow ongoing disputes with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding military interventions in Eastern DRC.
While emphasizing Rwanda’s commitment to peace and stability, Kagame asserted that his country would not hesitate to defend its national interests if South Africa adopted a hostile stance. The tension arises from South Africa’s role in the Southern African Military Intervention in the DRC (SAMIDRC), which Kagame has accused of backing armed groups that pose a security threat to Rwanda.
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, 2025
Rwanda has consistently supported the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) as the primary peacekeeping force in the region. However, Kagame expressed concern that SAMIDRC’s involvement, particularly its alleged collaboration with groups such as the FDLR—linked to genocide-related violence—has undermined peace efforts.
Addressing speculation that Ramaphosa had issued a warning to Rwanda, Kagame clarified that the South African leader had only sought logistical support for his country’s troops. He dismissed any notion of a direct threat but reiterated that Rwanda would take decisive action if its sovereignty was at risk.
Kagame’s comments highlight the growing friction among regional powers in the DRC conflict, with Rwanda standing firm on its security concerns while tensions with South Africa continue to mount.