Rwanda dismisses claims its defence force behind Eastern DRC conflict

Rwanda President Paul Kagame makes his speech during the Africa Climate Summit, 2023. [Stafford Ondego, Standard].

Rwanda, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has dismissed accusations made against its Defence Force during a Summit of Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

This comes amid a fresh tiff between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Rwandese counterpart Paul Kagame, which is highly likely to worsen the already strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In a statement issued on Sunday, February 2, Rwanda claims that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government is planning to attack and overthrow Kagame's regime.

Rwanda has insisted that its defence force's [RDF] role is to defend borders and not attack civilians.

"Rwanda rejects the accusations against the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) made in the statement of the Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held on 31 January 2025,"

"The Government of the DRC is also bent on attacking Rwanda and overthrowing its government, as has been repeated- ly and publicly stated by President Tshisekedi,"

Rwanda opines that the deployment of troops by SADC in an operation dubbed SAMIDRC is worsening the situation in the country.

"The argument that SAMIDRC was invited by the Government of the DRC is rendered void by the fact the they are there to fight the citizens of that country, and effectively bring war to Rwanda," Rwanda has said.

In efforts to restore calm in the region, SADC leaders have agreed to hold a joint summit with their EAC counterparts. The decision was reached at during a SADC Summit, where DRC President Felix Tshisekedi participated virtually.

At the Summit, Tshisekedi accused Rwanda, a fellow partner the East Afican Community, of arming the M23 rebel group and also sending RDF soldiers to fight alongside the rebels.