At the recent EAC-SADC Joint Summit, Rwandan President Paul Kagame delivered a strong message addressing the escalating security crisis between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kagame accused the DRC of fueling ethnic tensions and ignoring repeated pleas for resolution, calling for urgent and meaningful action to resolve the long-standing conflict.
"DRC cannot just tell us to keep quiet when they are mounting a security problem against our country. Nobody can tell us to shut up," Kagame stated, emphasizing Rwanda's frustration over what he described as DRC's failure to address the root causes of the conflict.
The Rwandan leader highlighted the ethnic dimension of the crisis, accusing DRC of denying people their rights, fostering division, and allowing the conflict to spill over into Rwanda. "This is an ethnic war that has been brewing for a long time. Denying people’s rights and then attacking Rwanda—this cannot continue," he said.
Kagame dismissed the idea of holding yet another summit without concrete outcomes, urging regional leaders to approach the issue with seriousness. "We can’t go on forever massaging problems. Let us use this meeting in a manner that will put into account all these matters seriously, and find a lasting solution."
The Rwandan president firmly placed the blame for the conflict on DRC, rejecting accusations that Rwanda had instigated the crisis. "This war was started by DRC and not anything from Rwanda. It was just brought and put on our shoulders, and we were told to own it. We can’t own it."
Kagame's remarks come amidst ongoing tensions between the two nations, with Rwanda accusing the DRC of harboring anti-Rwandan rebel groups while DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting armed factions within its borders. The summit marked a critical opportunity for the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) to mediate and push for a sustainable resolution.
The escalating crisis has drawn international concern, with regional stability hanging in the balance. Kagame’s pointed remarks signal Rwanda's growing impatience and its call for collective action to address what it sees as a pressing threat to regional peace and security.
