Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame addressed recent media “distortions” and clarified Rwanda's stance on the situation in eastern DRC, where the M23 rebel group, allegedly supported by Kigali, continues its advance.
He emphasized that the Rwanda Defense Force is a professional army, not a militia, and criticized South Africa's SAMIDRC as a belligerent force undermining peace efforts.
Kagame also refuted claims of warnings from Ramaphosa, stating that Rwanda is prepared to confront South Africa if it chooses confrontation over peaceful solutions.
"If South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day," Kagame wrote on X.
On Tuesday, widespread demonstrations erupted in Kinshasa, where protesters targeted the embassies of the United States, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Rwanda, and Uganda. These protests were reportedly driven by the increasing violence in eastern DRC, where rebel groups have intensified their attacks, allegedly with Rwandan military support.
In recent weeks, reports from DRC media indicated that M23 rebels have seized several cities, including the densely populated Goma, which they captured this past Sunday. The escalating conflict has resulted in the loss of more than a hundred military personnel, and for several days, Goma has been without water, electricity, and mobile communication.