Kigali/Pretoria – A significant diplomatic confrontation has emerged between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, following a heated exchange on social media regarding the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The dispute intensified after Ramaphosa addressed the nation on X (formerly Twitter), expressing condolences for the deaths of 13 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers in eastern DRC and blaming the M23 rebel group and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) for the violence.
In his statement, Ramaphosa characterized the situation as dire, emphasizing that South Africa’s military presence is part of a peacekeeping mission under the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He called for an immediate end to hostilities and reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to restoring stability in the region.
However, Kagame swiftly responded, accusing Ramaphosa of distorting facts and misrepresenting their discussions. He asserted that the RDF is not a militia but a national army and criticized the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) as an illegitimate force engaged in offensive operations. Kagame further claimed that Ramaphosa privately acknowledged that the DRC armed forces, not M23, were responsible for the deaths of South African soldiers.
The exchange has raised concerns about escalating tensions between the two nations, with Kagame warning that Rwanda is prepared for confrontation if necessary. This public spat marks a rare and alarming escalation in diplomatic relations between Rwanda and South Africa, with analysts fearing it could lead to further instability in the region.