Rwanda has strongly rejected accusations made by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) against the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), calling the claims “baseless” and asserting that SADC’s presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is exacerbating the conflict in the region.
The dispute stems from a statement issued during the SADC Extraordinary Summit held in Harare on January 31, 2025, where regional leaders expressed concern over recent attacks by the M23 armed group and the RDF on SADC troops, the DRC army, and civilians.
In a statement released today, Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation dismissed the allegations, stating that the RDF’s role is strictly defensive. “The RDF defends Rwanda’s borders from threats and protects civilians; it does not attack civilians,” the statement read.
Rwanda further accused SADC’s offensive force, the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), of supporting the DRC government’s “war against its own people,” particularly the M23 group and their communities, many of whom have fled to Rwanda as refugees. Kigali also claimed that the DRC government, under President Félix Tshisekedi, is intent on attacking Rwanda and overthrowing its government.
“SAMIDRC, together with coalition partners that include the Burundian armed forces, the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda), and European mercenaries, are central to the conflict and should not be there because they are adding to the problems that already existed,” the statement said.
Rwanda also alleged that it has documentary evidence showing that the combat objectives of SAMIDRC and its allies extend beyond defeating the M23 to include plans to attack Rwanda. “Recent information coming from Goma and documentary evidence of attack preparations indicate that combat objectives were not limited to defeating M23, but also attacking Rwanda,” the statement added.
The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC has long been a source of regional tension, with Rwanda accusing the DRC of harboring hostile groups like the FDLR, which Kigali claims pose a security threat. Meanwhile, the DRC and its allies have repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim Rwanda denies.
In a bid to resolve the crisis, Rwanda and several East African countries have called for the reinstatement of the East African Community (EAC) peacekeeping force, which the DRC expelled in 2023. A joint summit between SADC and the EAC is reportedly being planned to address the escalating tensions.
Rwanda reiterated its commitment to a political solution to the conflict and welcomed the proposed joint summit. “Rwanda has consistently advocated for a political solution to the ongoing conflict and welcomes the proposed joint summit of the East African Community and SADC,” the statement concluded.
As regional tensions continue to rise, the international community is closely watching the situation, with hopes that diplomatic efforts will prevail over further military escalation.
