Summary:

• President Kagame vows to defend Rwanda amid threats from the DRC, following tensions over alleged support for rebels; a recent U.S.-brokered deal aims to ease hostilities.

President Paul Kagame has expressed determination to defend Rwanda amid threats of a possible invasion by DRC.

“When we hear those who claim to be planning to attack and destroy the security of Rwanda, the question is: Is there anything we haven’t seen?” wondered Kagame.

“We have experienced destruction; we have reached its lowest point,” said Kagame during the annual presidential End of Year party held in Kigali on December 30, 2023.

He emphasised, “It is those who wish it for us who will experience it instead.”

Kagame’s remarks come hardly a fortnight after DRC President Felix Tshisekedi warned of the possibility of waging war against Rwanda over the latter’s support for M23 rebels in eastern Congo.

“I am going to convene Parliament in congress to authorise me to declare war against Rwanda,” said Tshisekedi, during a recent meeting at Place Sainte Thérèse in Kinshasa on Monday.

“Tell Kagame that I am not like the former leaders of the DRC he used to have fun with. The DRC has changed. I will respond to any provocation.”

Tshisekedi’s remarks come at a time of heightened tensions between DRC and Rwanda.

Kinshasa accuses Kigali of arming and helping M23 rebels with elite soldiers to destabilise eastern Congo, a charge Rwanda denies.

Kigali says Kinshasa has been arming FDLR, a genocidal militia group to terrorise Tutsi communities in North Kivu and also carry out attacks inside Rwanda.

Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to DRC, recently warned that “the restive North Kivu province has witnessed a further deterioration in the security situation, with rising regional tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, increasing the risk of direct military confrontation that could involve Burundi.”

However, the U.S. government recently secured a deal with both leaders whereby DRC would move its combat drones away from Goma and Rwanda withdraws its troops from DRC.

In his New Year speech, Kagame observed: “We are also dealing with insecurity in our region, and on our border. I want you to know that we can absorb any amount of criticism, however unjustified.”

He added: “We will always do what is necessary to ensure that Rwandans are safe and secure, no matter what.”

DRC’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) on December 31 published the provisional results of the presidential election of 20 December 2023, showing Tshisekedi had won the race with 73% of the total votes counted.