Kigali, Rwanda – Rwandan President Paul Kagame has firmly rejected international threats of sanctions over his country’s involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), asserting that Rwanda will prioritize its “existential threats” over external diplomatic pressure.
Kagame’s comments came amid escalating efforts from the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, and the United States to impose sanctions on Rwanda for its alleged support of M23 rebels in eastern DRC. The M23 rebels have continued to advance in the region, despite multiple ceasefire agreements, leading to widespread accusations that Kigali is backing the insurgents.
In an interview with Jeune Afrique, Kagame spoke forcefully about the growing threats from the international community, stating that Rwanda has faced “existential threats” for decades, referencing the 1994 genocide and the country’s ongoing security concerns. “Between dealing with existential threats and dealing with threats to punish Rwanda for one thing or another, I will turn my guns to the existential threat, as if the other one doesn’t exist,” he stated.
Kagame’s defiance was also underscored by a striking historical reference. During Rwanda’s 30th commemoration of the 1994 genocide, he recalled a harrowing story of an elderly woman, who was asked how she wanted to die before being killed. According to Kagame, the woman responded by spitting in her attacker’s face, symbolizing the resilience and defiance that he claimed Rwanda would continue to exhibit in the face of external pressure.
Kagame’s stance has put Rwanda on a potential collision course with Western powers, with the EU Parliament moving to cut financial and military aid to Rwanda. This includes calls for freezing all direct budget support unless Rwanda meets specific conditions, such as allowing humanitarian access to conflict zones and severing ties with the M23 rebels.
As the international community intensifies its scrutiny of Kigali, Kagame’s rejection of these sanctions signals that Rwanda is prepared for a protracted standoff, emphasizing that it will not be intimidated into compliance.