By Hastings Yobe
South Africa and Rwanda’s diplomatic relations have hit a new low over the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). President Cyril Ramaphosa has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group, which allegedly killed 13 South African peacekeepers in eastern DRC. In response, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame slammed South Africa for being part of a “belligerent force” involved in “offensive combat operations” to help the Congolese government “fight against its own people”.
The conflict has been escalating, with the M23 rebels capturing most of Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC. South Africa has warned that further attacks on its troops would be considered a “declaration of war”. The country’s Defence Minister Angie Motshekga emphasized that South Africa’s presence in DRC is not a declaration of war against any country or state.
The diplomatic fallout has been fueled by a series of exchanges between Ramaphosa and Kagame on social media platform X. Ramaphosa accused the M23 and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) militia of killing South African peacekeepers, while Kagame denied the allegations, calling the RDF an army, not a militia.
The conflict in DRC has been ongoing for decades, with multiple armed groups involved. South Africa’s military involvement in DRC dates back to the late 1990s, and the country has been part of the UN’s peacekeeping mission, Monusco. However, the latest escalation has raised questions about South Africa’s continued involvement in the conflict.
Defence analyst Dean Wingrin noted that South Africa’s economic interests in DRC, particularly in the mineral-rich eastern region, are a key factor in its military involvement. However, Thomas Mandrup, an associate professor at Stellenbosch University, emphasized that South Africa’s military is not equipped to handle the conflict, citing budget cuts and a decline in airpower capabilities.
The situation remains tense, with Sadc set to discuss the deployment of South African troops in DRC at a summit on Friday. Ramaphosa faces a difficult decision: keep South African soldiers in DRC and risk further deaths, or pull them out and negotiate safe passage with Rwanda.
إرسال تعليق