Gloves off! Kagame calls out Ramaphosa over involvement in DRC crisis

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has accused South African President Cyril Ramaphosa of distorting facts and making deliberate attacks amid the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In a post on X, Ramaphosa announced that 13 South African soldiers had died in the past week due to intensified clashes involving the M23 rebel group, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC). He claimed these groups had also targeted the Southern African Development Community Mission peacekeepers in the DRC (SAMIDRC).

Kagame, in a rebuttal, dismissed Ramaphosa’s claims, arguing that SAMIDRC was not a peacekeeping force but had instead undermined diplomatic efforts led by the East African Community Regional Force. 

He also accused SAMIDRC of engaging in combat operations alongside the DRC government and aligning with the FDLR, a group with a history of targeting Rwanda.

“President Ramaphosa has never issued a ‘warning’ of any kind— unless it was delivered in his local language, which I do not understand,” Kagame said. “He did ask for support to ensure South African forces had adequate electricity, food, and water, which we shall help facilitate.”

The Rwanda president further claimed that Ramaphosa had privately acknowledged that M23 was not responsible for the deaths of South African soldiers, attributing them instead to FARDC. 

He dismissed South Africa’s role as a peacemaker and warned of potential conflict.

“If South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day,” he said.

Ramaphosa, in his post, noted that South Africa’s military presence in eastern DRC was not a declaration of war but part of a broader SADC and UN mission to restore peace and protect civilians.

“The presence of SAMIDRC forces demonstrates SADC’s commitment to supporting the DRC in achieving lasting peace and stability,” he said.

He also noted that ongoing violence had led to casualties among peacekeepers from Malawi, Tanzania, and the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).