Rwanda-South Africa tension: ‘Cyril Ramaphosa has taken the right approach’ – Dr Oscar Van Heerden, UJ

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.