President Paul Kagame’s admnistration has hit out at the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and some European countries that have proposed sanctions against Rwanda over its involvement in the DRC conflict.
This comes amid heightened regional and international tensions, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accusing Rwanda of funding and arming the M23 rebel group to exploit Congo’s mineral wealth.
The latest development follows a meeting between Rwanda’s Minister of State James Kabarebe and the European Union (EU) Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, Ambassador Johan Borgstam, who was on a working visit to Kigali.
In a statement on Friday, February 28, Rwanda told Borgstam that the situation in Eastern DRC cannot be compared to the conflict in Ukraine, asserting that any attempt to draw such comparisons is politically motivated.
Kagame Sends Hard-Hitting Message to European Powers
Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that EU member states are aware of the historical context of recurring insecurity in the Eastern DRC, including the DRC government’s internal issues.
The statement highlighted the presence of over 200 armed groups, the systematic persecution of Congolese Tutsi communities, and hate speech as some of the underlying issues Rwanda wants European powers and the international community to consider.
According to the statement, the listed issues bear direct responsibility in the ongoing conflict where Rwanda has been accused of backing rebels in DRC.
Also Read: UK Slaps Kagame with 6 Key Sanctions
The ministry went on to mention that that Rwanda faces an existential threat from the escalating conflict in the DRC.
“Rwanda faces an existential threat, which should not be trivialized, from the presence at our border of the DRC’s international military coalition composed of the FDLR genocidal militia, Burun-ian forces, Wazalendo ethnic militias, SAMIDRC and European mercenaries,” read part of the statement.
He added that Rwanda will continue to insist on having security guarantees, including the withdrawal of all foreign forces near its borders, the resolution of the M23 question, and the neutralization of the FDLR.
“The principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, often cited by the EU, must apply to Rwanda as well,” the statement added.
According to the Kigali MFA, Rwanda’s sovereignty has been violated over 20 times since 2018, with well-documented reports to back this claim.
He emphasized that defensive measures were put in place specifically to prevent these attacks and will remain in place until the threats are fully addressed.
Also Read: Kagame Fires Back at UK After Sanctions Over DRC Conflict
Rwanda Calls Out EU States
At the same time, Rwanda expressed regret that domestic EU politics and vested interests in the region influence EU foreign policy decisions, often overlooking the facts.
“Punitive measures that infringe upon the rights of targeted countries do nothing to solve the situation, in this case it undermines African-led peace efforts,” the foreign minister said.
Additionally, he warned that the DRC cannot continue misleading the international community by calling for sanctions on Rwanda.
This, he said, distracts the world from the DRC’s own governance failures, human rights abuses, and rampant corruption, including profiteering from arms deals that fuel its appetite for war.
Rwanda urged EU member states to participate positively in regional peace efforts and to avoid mixing politics with issues of peace and security.
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