Rwandan President Paul Kagame has dismissed accusations made by his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, that 13 South African soldiers were killed by the Rwanda Defence Army (RDF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Ramaphosa claimed the RDF, alongside the M23 rebel group, attacked both the DRC’s armed forces and peacekeepers, leading to the soldiers’ deaths.
The M23, a rebel group thought to be supported by Rwanda, has intensified its offensive in the region, recently seizing the key city of Goma. The group accuses the DRC government of failing to honour past peace agreements, which has further escalated the conflict and caused widespread displacement.
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In response to Ramaphosa’s claims, Kagame labelled them as “lies,” reiterating Rwanda’s stance against the allegations. The Rwandan leader added that while South Africa is welcome to contribute to peace efforts in the region, it is not in a position to mediate or play a peacemaking role in the ongoing crisis.
The tensions between the two leaders come at a time when the DRC continues to face a dire humanitarian situation due to the ongoing fighting and the presence of various armed groups in the region.
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