Rwandan President Paul Kagame has issued a sharp response to South Africa, warning that his country is prepared to defend itself if tensions over the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) escalate.
The statement follows remarks by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who alleged that M23 rebels and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) were involved in the deaths of 13 South African soldiers in the DRC.
Kagame, in a post on his official X account, pushed back against the accusations, stating that discussions between him and Ramaphosa had been seriously misrepresented.
He argued that the statements made publicly by South African authorities, including Ramaphosa, were inconsistent with what was actually discussed behind closed doors.
Kagame criticised the way the conversation had been portrayed, describing it as “distorted, deliberate attacks, and even lies.”
“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 said.
Providing clarity on Rwanda’s position, he underscored that the RDF is a national army, not an irregular militia, rejecting any characterisation that suggests otherwise.
He also pointed out that the South African Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) is not a neutral force but a combat unit sanctioned by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to support Kinshasa’s government.
Kagame claimed that SAMIDRC has engaged in military operations alongside armed factions such as the FDLR, a group long accused of targeting Rwanda.
He further argued that SAMIDRC’s deployment displaced the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), which he described as a legitimate peacekeeping mission. This, he said, disrupted diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
On the matter of the South African soldiers’ deaths, Kagame stated that Ramaphosa had privately acknowledged that M23 was not responsible. Instead, he said, the fatalities were caused by the DRC’s own armed forces, known as FARDC.
Rejecting reports that Ramaphosa had issued a warning to Rwanda, Kagame stated that no such threat had been made.
According to him, Ramaphosa’s only request was for assistance in ensuring that South African forces had access to basic necessities such as electricity, food, and water.
Kagame also dismissed the idea that South Africa could act as a mediator in the crisis, suggesting that it lacks the standing to do so.
He concluded, “If South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day.”
