Rwanda ready for confrontation with South Africa: President Paul Kagame Declares

Last Updated on January 30, 2025 by NewsTurkana

Rwandan President Paul Kagame says Rwanda is prepared for a confrontation with South Africa if necessary.

This follows South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s claim that M23 rebels and Rwanda’s defense forces were responsible for the deaths of 13 South African soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Kagame criticized Ramaphosa for not warning Rwanda about its military activities in the DRC, stating that instead, South Africa had requested logistical support while acknowledging its efforts for peace. He asserted that South Africa is not in a position to act as a peacemaker or mediator and warned that if it seeks confrontation, Rwanda will respond accordingly.

Clarifying details of his recent conversations with Ramaphosa, Kagame stated, “What has been said about these conversations in the media by South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself contains a lot of distortion, deliberate attacks, and even lies. If words can change so much from a conversation to a public statement, it says a lot about how these very important issues are being managed.”