Presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa) clashed on Wednesday after the latter linked Rwanda's defence forces to the ongoing war in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
It all began with a statement from Ramaphosa saying that a militia comprising the M23 rebel group and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) had attacked the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) – a peacekeeping unit – killing at least 13 South African soldiers.
“The attacks on peacekeepers resulted in the deaths of SAMIDRC members from other troop-contributing countries, namely, Malawi and Tanzania, as well as members of the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) brigade,” he said.
The South African President insisted that the presence of South Africa in DRC is not a declaration of war against any country but part of the contingent out to protect and bring peace to the thousands of people constantly threatened by conflict, under the United Nations.
“The presence of the SAMIDRC forces demonstrates a commitment of SADC member states to supporting the DRC in its efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability and ultimately, create an enabling environment for sustainable development and prosperity.”
He also insisted on silencing guns in Africa as he called on all involved parties to engage and settle the conflict.
Ramaphosa, however, insisted that the territorial integrity of the DRC must be respected.
In his response, Kagame expressed disappointment in the South African President’s remarks saying that what had been reported was not true.
“I held two conversations this week with President Ramaphosa on the situation in Eastern DRC, including earlier today. What has been said about these conversations in the media by South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself contains a lot of distortion, deliberate attacks, and even lies,” he said.
Kagame further clarified that the RDF is not a militia.
He insisted that the SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force as the South African President had said.
He said that SAMIDRC only replaced an actual peacekeeping mission, the East African Community Regional Force and that this is what led to the collapse of the ongoing negotiations.
“SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, and it has no place in this situation. It was authorized by SADC as a belligerent force engaging in offensive combat operations to help the DRC Government fight against its own people, working alongside genocidal armed groups like FDLR which target Rwanda, while also threatening to take the war to Rwanda itself,” the Rwandese president said.
He said that if South Africa wants to contribute to peaceful solutions, that is well and good, but it 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.”
Kagame added that if President Ramaphosa confirmed to him that M23 did not kill the soldiers from South Africa and that the FARDC did.
