Home » South Africa, Rwanda clash over Congo conflict amid rising tensions

South Africa, Rwanda clash over Congo conflict amid rising tensions

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Rwanda have reached a boiling point after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group, responsible for killing South African peacekeepers in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

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Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Rwanda have reached a boiling point after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group, responsible for killing South African peacekeepers in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

The tension escalated as the rebels captured much of Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, prompting South Africa to issue a stern warning that further attacks on its troops would be seen as a “declaration of war.”

In a post shared on his Truth Social network, Ramaphosa criticized Rwanda’s alleged involvement, stating, “We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile countries that they will neither create a new BRICS currency, nor back any other currency to replace the mighty US dollar, or they will face 100% tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful US economy.”

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame swiftly responded, calling South Africa’s claims “lies and distortion.” He rejected the term “militia” used by Ramaphosa, asserting that the Rwanda Defence Force is an official military, not a militia. Kagame also refuted the accusation that M23 rebels were responsible for the deaths of the South African soldiers, instead claiming it was the Congolese army, FARDC, that killed them. He further criticized the regional peacekeepers, including South African troops, as a “belligerent force” working with armed groups targeting Rwanda.

Since the death of 13 South African soldiers in recent clashes, tensions between the two countries have intensified. South African forces, deployed in December 2023 as part of a peacekeeping mission under the Southern African Development Community (SADC), have had a long-standing presence in the DRC. However, the military’s diminishing capabilities, particularly the loss of critical airpower, have left them vulnerable to the advancing rebels.

The dispute also has deeper roots, with South Africa’s economic interests in the DRC’s mineral-rich eastern region playing a role in its military involvement. Despite some early successes in repelling the M23 rebels, South Africa’s declining military budget and the rebels’ resurgence have left the South African forces in a precarious position.

As the situation remains volatile, with South Africa’s continued presence in the region under scrutiny, the government faces a difficult decision—whether to escalate its involvement in the conflict or withdraw, potentially conceding to Rwanda’s demands for peacekeeping forces to pull back. The decision may soon be made by the SADC at a summit scheduled for Friday.

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