President Kagame denies occupying Eastern DRC, criticizes UN peacekeeping efforts
Kagame also questioned the effectiveness of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, stating it had failed to resolve the security issues in the mineral-rich eastern region.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda addressed diplomats in Kigali, asserting that Rwanda lacks the capacity to occupy the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), countering accusations of such involvement.
During a luncheon with the diplomatic corps, a traditional event where he discusses Rwanda’s foreign affairs, Kagame dedicated over 90 per cent of his 90-minute speech to the crisis in Congo.
More To Read
He questioned the plausibility of Rwanda occupying Congo, stating, “Rwanda is in Congo. It has forces in Congo. It is occupying Congo. In this day and age, with Rwanda and its capacity, can we really do that?”
Kagame criticized the international community for overlooking the root causes of the conflict, emphasising the persistence of genocidal ideologies in the region.
“The very people who murdered people here in Rwanda, those who carried out the genocide, still exist, are still armed, are still practising the ideology of genocide in our neighbourhood, in eastern Congo. Supported by government, supported by leaders in that place, on the watch of this international community that talks about values, that talks about interests,” he said.
Civilians push their belongings on a wooden handcart known as Tshikudu as they flee after heavy gunfire that raised fears of M23 rebels advancing along a road from Sake near Goma in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo February 9, 2023. (Photo: REUTERS/Djaffar Sabiti)
He further stressed the importance of addressing the underlying issues, stating, “If you want to really address a problem there is no better way of doing that, than bothering to look at and addressing the root cause of that problem. It doesn’t matter how powerful you are, you just stick to the basics, of facts, of evidence of reality.”
Kagame also criticised Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, suggesting he lacked legitimacy, “People tell us they want democracy everywhere, they encourage elections, [yet] the person who is causing problems in this situation I am talking about between Rwanda and DRC, has never twice been elected. And you know it.”
He also questioned the effectiveness of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, stating it had failed to resolve the security issues in the mineral-rich eastern region.
Kagame’s remarks reflect Rwanda’s stance on the DRC conflict and its role in the region.
Top Stories Today
