Kagame calls out Ramaphosa over distorted version of what's happening in eastern DRC
In a lengthy social media post, Kagame claims the statement issued by the Presidency on Wednesday is distorted, a deliberate attack and even contains lies.
Paul Kagame. Picture: AFP
CAPE TOWN - Rwandan President Paul Kagame has called out President Cyril Ramaphosa over his version of what is happening in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Thirteen South African troops have died in the conflict since the weekend.
In a lengthy social media post, Kagame claims the statement issued by the Presidency on Wednesday is distorted, a deliberate attack and even contains lies.
Kagame said South Africa is in no position to take on the role of peacemaker or mediator, and if it prefers confrontation, Rwanda is prepared to take it on.
On Wednesday, Ramaphosa said South Africa’s presence in eastern DRC is not a declaration of war against any country or state.
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He said the more than 1,000 soldiers stationed there are part of a SADC peacekeeping force, and that they’ve come under attack from the M23 rebel group backed by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), which he called a militia.
Hitting back, Kagame said the RDF is an army and not a militia.
Contrary to the presidency’s statement, Kagame said Ramaphosa confirmed to him that South African soldiers were killed by the armed forces of the DR, and not M23.
Kagame said SADC’s peacekeeping force which includes South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania is not recognised as such, and that in fact, it’s engaged in offensive combat to help the DRC government attack Rwanda.
Describing the SADC peacekeeping force as belligerent, Kagame went on to say that they displaced a true peacekeeping force, the East African Community Regional Force and this led to negotiations failing.
“If South Africa warns to contribute to peaceful solutions, that is well and good, but South Africa 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,” reads Kagame’s post on X.
Kagame said that in the two conversations, he had with Ramaphosa, the last being on Wednesday morning, Ramaphosa never issued any warning to him, only asking for support to ensure South African troops had enough electricity, food and water.