If you want war, we're ever ready: Rwanda President Paul Kagame warns Ramaphosa as 13 SANDF soldiers die in DRC

The bloody conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has spilled over into a war of words between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

Over the past week, tensions have escalated following the deaths of 13 South African soldiers in clashes with M23 rebels, who are widely believed to be backed by Rwanda. The diplomatic fallout has seen Kagame accusing Ramaphosa of lying and distortion, while issuing veiled threats of military aggression.

Kagame took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday to express his frustration, claiming that Ramaphosa had misrepresented their recent phone conversations. He denied that Ramaphosa had warned him of a South African military response if Rwandan forces attacked South African troops in the DRC. Instead, Kagame stated that Ramaphosa had asked for Rwanda’s assistance in ensuring that South African forces had adequate electricity, food, and water.

“What has been communicated about my conversations with Ramaphosa in the media, by South African officials and by Ramaphosa himself, contains a lot of distortion, deliberate attacks, and even lies,” Kagame wrote.

A Disputed Narrative

Kagame’s post appeared to be a direct response to South African Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, who had earlier stated that Ramaphosa had warned Rwanda against attacking South African troops. Kagame also dismissed South Africa’s characterisation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) as a “peacekeeping force,” insisting that it was instead a “belligerent force” engaged in offensive combat operations.

“SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, and it has no place in this situation,” Kagame said. “It was authorised by SADC as a belligerent force engaging in offensive combat operations to help the DRC government fight against its own people, working alongside genocidal armed groups like FDLR which target Rwanda, while also threatening to take the war to Rwanda itself.”

Kagame further claimed that Ramaphosa had confirmed to him that the M23 rebels were not responsible for the deaths of South African soldiers, suggesting instead that the DRC’s armed forces (FARDC) were to blame. This claim has been met with scepticism, as it contradicts the widely held belief that the M23, backed by Rwanda, is the primary aggressor in the conflict.

A Threat of Confrontation

In a chilling warning, Kagame stated, “South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator. And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day.”

While Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo later clarified that Kagame’s statement was meant to set the record straight rather than threaten military action, the message underscored the deepening rift between the two nations.

The Human Cost

The conflict has taken a heavy toll on South African forces. Thirteen soldiers have been killed in the past week, with the latest casualties occurring on Monday when a mortar, fired during crossfire between M23/Rwandan forces and DRC troops, struck a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) base near Goma airport.

Defence Minister Motshekga confirmed that the SANDF had not been involved in any fighting for 48 hours prior to Wednesday, suggesting that a temporary truce was holding. However, reports of ammunition shortages among South African troops have raised concerns about their vulnerability. Motshekga denied these claims, stating that she had visited the SANDF base in Goma before the fighting began and found no shortages.

Diplomatic Efforts Falter

Efforts to broker peace have so far yielded little progress. On Wednesday, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi skipped a summit of the East African Community (EAC) called by Kenyan President William Ruto to address the crisis. The EAC called for an immediate ceasefire and urged Tshisekedi to engage in direct talks with the M23 rebels—a move he has so far refused to consider.

The SADC is set to hold its own summit in Harare on Friday to discuss the conflict. Pretoria sources indicate that Tshisekedi has requested reinforcements for SAMIDRC to continue the fight against the M23 and Rwanda. However, there is reportedly “no appetite” among SADC leaders for such a move. Instead, they are likely to agree on a gradual and orderly withdrawal of SAMIDRC forces from the DRC to avoid damaging the bloc’s credibility.

A Blow to South Africa’s Regional Standing

The conflict has dealt a significant blow to South Africa’s reputation as a regional power. Defence expert Darren Olivier of the African Defence Review told Daily Maverick, “This is the end of South Africa as a regional power for the next decade at least.”

South Africa’s stance that Rwanda is backing the M23 militarily has garnered widespread support, including at the United Nations. Following a Security Council meeting on Sunday, the UN demanded that Rwanda immediately withdraw its forces from the DRC.

A Complex and Escalating Crisis

The DRC conflict is a complex web of regional rivalries, historical grievances, and geopolitical manoeuvring. The M23 rebels, who claim to represent the interests of the Tutsi minority in the DRC, have been accused of receiving support from Rwanda—a claim Kagame vehemently denies. Meanwhile, the DRC government has been criticised for its reliance on foreign forces and its inability to address the root causes of the conflict.

As the war of words between Ramaphosa and Kagame escalates, the human cost of the conflict continues to mount. For the soldiers on the ground and the civilians caught in the crossfire, the prospect of peace remains elusive.

Conclusion

The DRC conflict has exposed deep fissures within the region, pitting South Africa against Rwanda in a bitter war of words and military posturing. As diplomatic efforts falter and the death toll rises, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene.