A growing rift between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Rwandan President Paul Kagame threatens to destabilise regional diplomacy as tensions escalate over the presence of South African troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Kagame has openly rejected South Africa’s military involvement in the conflict, dismissing the Southern African Development Community Mission in DRC (SAMIDRC) as an illegitimate force.
His comments come after 13 South African soldiers were killed in eastern DRC, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have gained ground, seizing key areas, including the strategic city of Goma.
“SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, and it has no place in this situation,” Kagame said on X.
“It was authorized by SADC as a belligerent force engaging in offensive combat operations to help the DRC Government fight against its own people, working alongside genocidal armed groups like FDLR which target Rwanda.”
His remarks have widened an already strained relationship with Ramaphosa, who has yet to respond publicly but is facing mounting pressure at home to protect South African forces.
War of Words as Confrontation Looms
Reports surfaced that South Africa had privately warned Rwanda that further attacks on its troops would be considered a declaration of war. Kagame, however, denied receiving such a message and responded defiantly.
“If South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day,” he said, heightening fears of a direct clash between two of Africa’s most influential nations.
Ramaphosa and Kagame have had a tense relationship for years, with accusations of espionage, political assassinations, and regional interference defining their engagements.
In 2014, South Africa expelled Rwandan diplomats over alleged involvement in attacks on exiled opposition figures. Kigali retaliated by expelling South African envoys. The latest crisis only adds to the history of distrust between the two leaders.
SADC Chairman Mnangagwa Remains Silent
Despite the rising tensions, SADC Chairman and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has remained conspicuously silent.
His lack of intervention raises concerns about the regional bloc’s ability to manage conflicts among its member states.
SADC deployed the SAMIDRC force last year to support the DRC government against M23 rebels. However, given its historical ties to the rebel group, Rwanda sees this as direct interference.
Mnangagwa’s silence leaves Ramaphosa politically exposed as he faces growing criticism from opposition parties and security analysts who question South Africa’s role in a war that is now costing lives.
Regional Uncertainty as Conflict Escalates
The DRC conflict has turned into a geopolitical flashpoint, with Kagame defending Rwanda’s involvement as a necessary step to counter the Democratic Liberation Front of Rwanda (FDLR), a group linked to the 1994 genocide. On the other hand, South Africa views M23 as a destabilizing force that threatens the sovereignty of the DRC.
With neither Ramaphosa nor Kagame backing down, the risk of further escalation remains high. As the leader of SADC, Mnangagwa faces growing calls to step in before the conflict spirals into a broader regional crisis.
For now, diplomatic efforts remain at a standstill, and the silence from the SADC chair only adds to the uncertainty surrounding the future of South African-Rwanda relations.
