Rwandan President Paul Kagame has boldly stated that his country is ready for war with South Africa, accusing President Cyril Ramaphosa of lying about South Africa’s involvement in the M23 conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).¹
The conflict in the DRC has been a longstanding point of contention between Rwanda and South Africa.
Rwanda has been accused of supporting the M23 rebel group, while South Africa has contributed troops to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the DRC, which aims to defeat the M23.
Given the heightened tensions, it’s difficult to predict what will happen next. However, it’s clear that the relationship between Rwanda and South Africa has been strained for some time, with disagreements over issues like the treatment of Rwandan dissidents in South Africa.
The situation remains volatile, with both countries maintaining their positions.
Only time will tell if diplomacy can prevail or if the situation will escalate further.
