Rwanda-South Africa tension: ‘Cyril Ramaphosa has taken the right approach’ – Dr Oscar Van Heerden, UJ
SANDF soldiers are currently engaging in peacekeeping efforts in the DRC, which has led to tension with Rwanda.
SANDF army defence force soldiers
John Perlman speaks with Dr Oscar Van Heerden, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Diplomacy and Leadership at the University of Johannesburg.
Listen below:
Tensions between South Africa and Rwanda are high amid the bloody conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
There has been a war of words between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, each accusing the other of escalating tensions.
Kagame says Ramaphosa is lying, issuing a veiled threat of military aggression.
“We can certainly say this is a diplomatic spat.”
- Dr Oscar Van Heerden, Centre for Diplomacy and Leadership - University of Johannesburg
Van Heerden believes that Ramaphosa has made the right decision in trying to engage with Kagame diplomatically rather than attempting to show force.
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However, he says there is a great risk of both the United States and Russia getting involved in the conflict, which will place South Africa in the middle of a proxy war.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.