The escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) involving South African forces and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels has sparked a war of words between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The fighting in Goma, which has intensified over the past week, has deepened divisions within the East African Community (EAC) and raised serious questions about regional stability.
During the Extraordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State on the crisis in the DRC, President Kagame expressed frustration over what he described as trickery and a lack of unity within the regional bloc. His anger was particularly evident as he questioned the EAC’s effectiveness in resolving the conflict. Notably, there was no representative from the DRC at the summit, further fueling concerns about the organisation’s ability to mediate the crisis.
Kagame criticised DRC President Félix Tshisekedi for seeking military assistance from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) rather than working through the EAC. He argued that SADC’s involvement undermined the role of the EAC and weakened its credibility. The Rwandan leader warned that divisions among member states could lead to the disbandment of the EAC, as its diminishing influence in the region becomes more apparent.
He also directed strong criticism at President Ramaphosa for deploying South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops to support the Congolese army, the FARDC. Kagame accused the FARDC of committing atrocities against Rwandan communities in the DRC and labelled them as murderers fighting against the M23. He denied allegations that Rwanda was funding the M23 rebels, asserting that ethnic minorities in eastern Congo are not Rwandan nationals.
Furthermore, Kagame accused Ramaphosa of prioritising South Africa’s economic and political interests in the DRC while portraying himself as a peacemaker. He claimed that South African troops were fighting on the wrong side of the conflict and dismissed South Africa’s warnings against Rwanda. In response to what he described as threats from South Africa, Kagame stated that he would assess the situation and respond accordingly.
The Rwandan president also criticised Tshisekedi’s approach to handling the conflict, describing his reliance on military force as premature and counterproductive. He argued that engaging in armed conflict against his own people would not bring a lasting solution. Kagame maintained that the DRC’s decision to seek SADC’s intervention rather than working within the EAC framework was unacceptable and should never have happened.
As the crisis in the DRC deepens, tensions between regional powers continue to rise, exposing divisions within African leadership. The fallout from this conflict could have far-reaching implications for both the EAC and broader regional stability, with the potential to reshape alliances and redefine Africa’s approach to conflict resolution.
