Rwanda is facing serious accusations of illegally occupying the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and seeking regime change, according to the DRC’s foreign minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner.
In an interview with reporters, Wagner criticized Rwanda for decades of impunity, claiming that President Paul Kagame has violated international law by supporting M23 rebels in their takeover of Goma, an eastern Congolese city. These rebels, backed by Rwanda, have threatened to push further into DRC, with plans to advance toward the capital, Kinshasa.
In response to the allegations, Rwanda’s government spokeswoman, Yolande Makolo, denied the claims, insisting that Rwandan troops were stationed along the border to prevent the conflict from spilling over into Rwanda’s territory. She emphasized that Rwanda has no intention of engaging in war or seeking annexation, stating, “We’re not interested in regime change.”
Meanwhile, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc of 16 countries, is convening for an urgent meeting in Zimbabwe to discuss the escalating situation. SADC has deployed peacekeeping forces, primarily from South Africa, to combat the M23 rebel group and restore stability in the mineral-rich region, which has long been plagued by unrest. Tragically, 16 SADC soldiers have lost their lives in clashes with M23 around Goma in the past week.
Tensions between Rwanda and South Africa have been rising, with Kagame questioning the role of SADC peacekeepers in the region, dismissing them as ineffective in resolving the crisis. Makolo further defended Rwanda’s military presence, arguing that it is a response to “repeated violations” from cross-border shelling, with fatalities in Rwanda as a result.
Amid the escalating violence, Wagner called for the international community to take action, urging the suspension of foreign aid to Rwanda and the imposition of sanctions on those supporting the conflict. She also called for Rwanda’s troops to be removed from UN peacekeeping missions, criticizing Rwanda’s contradictory role in portraying itself as a peacekeeper elsewhere while allegedly fueling conflict in the Great Lakes region.
