Rwanda Accused of Illegally Occupying DR Congo Amidst Rising Tensions

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner accuses Rwanda of aggression after recent M23 rebel advancements in eastern DR Congo, while Rwanda defends its military presence.

In a striking claim, the foreign minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, has accused Rwanda of illegally occupying parts of the DRC and seeking to initiate regime change, as reported in an exclusive BBC interview. Her remarks follow the troubling reports of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seizing the eastern city of Goma, raising alarms about their potential march towards the capital, Kinshasa.

Wagner highlighted the ongoing impunity enjoyed by Rwandan President Paul Kagame in light of alleged violations of international law, urging global leaders to impose sanctions on Rwanda. "We need action that recognizes the gravity of the situation," she stated, calling for foreign aid to Rwanda to be curtailed and for its troops to be removed from UN peacekeeping missions. "It's unacceptable for a nation that claims to promote peace internationally to perpetuate conflict in the Great Lakes region," Wagner lamented.

In response, Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo vehemently dismissed the allegations, asserting that Rwanda's military presence was solely defensive, aimed at preventing conflict from spilling across its borders. "We're not interested in war, annexation, or regime change," she emphasized during an interview with BBC’s Newsday programme.

The escalating violence has prompted the Southern African Development Community (SADC)—a regional organization comprising 16 member states—to convene an emergency meeting in Zimbabwe to evaluate the situation. Recently, SADC has deployed peacekeeping troops, primarily from South Africa, to stabilize the mineral-rich DRC, where clashes with M23 have already claimed the lives of sixteen soldiers.

During a heated exchange with his South African counterpart, Kagame criticized the intervention of SADC troops, arguing that they do not fulfill a peacekeeping role and should not engage in the ongoing conflict. Makolo reinforced that Rwanda's military actions are a necessary measure in light of increasing cross-border attacks.

As tensions mount, Wagner's call for international accountability resonates amidst fears of an expanding conflict in the volatile region of the Great Lakes. The international community watches closely as discussions unfold regarding Rwanda's activities in the DRC, the effectiveness of SADC’s peacekeeping efforts, and the overall security of Eastern Africa.