President Paul Kagame Addresses on Eastern DRC Crisis

President Paul Kagame stated that he had two discussions with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the ongoing crisis in Eastern DRC, including one earlier that day. However, he expressed concern that media reports, including statements by South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself, contained significant distortions, deliberate attacks, and even falsehoods. He remarked that if the essence of a conversation could be altered so drastically in public statements, it reflected poorly on how such critical issues were being handled.

Rwanda’s Military Identity

President Kagame emphasized that the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) is a national army, not a militia, countering any misrepresentation in media reports.

SAMIDRC’s Role in the Conflict

He asserted that SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force but a belligerent entity authorized by SADC for offensive military operations. Kagame accused SAMIDRC of aiding the DRC government against its own people while collaborating with genocidal groups like the FDLR, which pose a direct threat to Rwanda.

Displacement of a True Peacekeeping Force

The Rwandan leader noted that SAMIDRC replaced the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), a legitimate peacekeeping force. He attributed the failure of negotiation efforts to this shift.

President Paul Kagame’s Clarification on Alleged Warnings

Kagame denied claims that President Ramaphosa had issued any warnings to Rwanda. He suggested that if such warnings were made, they might have been delivered in a language he did not understand. However, he acknowledged that Ramaphosa had requested assistance in ensuring that South African troops had sufficient electricity, food, and water, a request Rwanda would help communicate.

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Responsibility for South African Casualties

According to President Paul Kagame, President Ramaphosa confirmed to him that M23 rebels were not responsible for the deaths of South African soldiers. Instead, he stated that the casualties resulted from actions by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC)

South Africa’s Role in the Peace Process

Kagame welcomed South Africa’s potential contribution to peaceful solutions but questioned its capability to serve as a peacemaker or mediator. He added that if South Africa preferred confrontation, Rwanda was prepared to respond accordingly. President Kagame’s remarks underscored his concerns about misinformation and South Africa’s involvement in the Eastern DRC conflict, reaffirming Rwanda’s position on the ongoing situation.