Rwandan President Paul Kagame has unleashed a fierce rebuke at Western powers after multiple sanctions were slapped on Kigali over its alleged backing of the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
During an emotionally charged commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Kagame accused foreign powers of hypocrisy and meddling in Rwanda’s affairs.
The tough-talking head of state reminded Western powers that they should concentrate on their issues and let Kigali deal with its problems.
Kagame’s remarks came as Rwanda faces mounting global pressure, including aid cuts by Germany and the United Kingdom, sanctions on a Rwandan minister by the United States, and a pending review of a crucial mineral deal by the European Union. Canada, too, has suspended export permits and official engagements with Kigali.
The president’s remarks will definitely throw Rwanda’s traditionally strong ties with the West into uncertainty.
Under Kagame’s leadership, the country has won global admiration for its stability, peacekeeping efforts, and hosting of international summits.
However, critics argue that this polished image has long masked Kigali’s authoritarian tendencies and military actions beyond its borders.
At the heart of the diplomatic fallout is Rwanda’s alleged military support to the M23 rebel group, a Tutsi-led militia accused of wreaking havoc in eastern DRC.
UN reports indicate that Rwanda has deployed at least 4,000 troops in the mineral-rich region, a claim Kagame’s government has consistently denied.
The M23 insurgents have in recent months seized swathes of territory, displacing hundreds of thousands of Congolese civilians.
Kinshasa accuses Kigali of using the rebels as a proxy force to loot valuable minerals, including cobalt and tantalum, which are essential to the global tech industry.
However, Kagame insists Rwanda’s involvement is about national security, referring to the presence of genocidal militia groups in eastern Congo, some of which are remnants of forces responsible for the 1994 atrocities in Rwanda.
