Kagame Refutes Ramaphosa’s Statements on DR Congo Conflict

President Paul Kagame has dismissed claims made by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the crisis in eastern DR Congo, clarifying key points from their discussions.

Following two virtual conversations between the two leaders, Ramaphosa and other South African officials made statements that Kagame described as distorted, deliberately misleading, and even false.

The discussions took place after the M23 rebel group, a Congolese militia, seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province in DR Congo.

Distorted Statements

“If words can change so much from a conversation to a public statement, it says a lot about how these very important issues are being managed,” Kagame remarked, expressing disappointment over the misrepresentation of their discussions.

He took particular issue with Ramaphosa’s assertion that the fighting in eastern DR Congo was caused by an escalation involving both M23 and the “Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) militia.” Kagame refuted this characterization, stating, “The Rwanda Defence Force is an army, not a militia.”

He also clarified that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) is not a peacekeeping force but rather a combat force authorized to fight alongside the Congolese government against its own citizens. Kagame accused the SAMIDRC of working with armed groups, including the FDLR, a militia composed of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and of threatening Rwanda’s security.

“SAMIDRC displaced a true peacekeeping force, the East African Community Regional Force, and this contributed to the failure of the negotiation processes,” Kagame added.

Misrepresentation of Events

Kagame also rejected claims that Ramaphosa had issued a warning to Rwanda, stating, “Ramaphosa has never given a ‘warning’ of any kind, unless it was delivered in his local language which I do not understand.”

However, Kagame acknowledged that Ramaphosa had requested support to ensure that South African troops in DR Congo had adequate electricity, food, and water—a request that he agreed to help communicate.

Clarification on South African Soldiers’ Deaths

A key revelation from the discussions was Ramaphosa’s confirmation that M23 rebels did not kill South African soldiers, as initially claimed, but rather the Congolese army (FARDC) did. During intense battles earlier this week, 13 South African soldiers lost their lives while fighting alongside FARDC, European mercenaries, and other groups, including the FDLR.

Rwanda’s Position on the Crisis

Kagame emphasized that Rwanda will not compromise its sovereignty and security. “If South Africa wants to contribute to peaceful solutions, that is well and good, but South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator. And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day,” he stated.

Meanwhile, M23 rebels continue to gain ground, having recently captured Minova in South Kivu and Masisi in North Kivu before seizing Goma. The group is demanding direct peace talks with the Congolese government, which has refused negotiations, labeling them a terrorist movement.

Regional efforts to resolve the crisis diplomatically have so far failed, with the Congolese government rejecting a political solution and opting for military engagement.