The diplomatic tensions between South Africa and Rwanda have taken a sharp turn as Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of deploying South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the guise of peacekeeping, while allegedly protecting his personal mining interests. Makolo’s remarks, posted on social media platform X, directly challenged Ramaphosa’s public narrative of solidarity with the DRC, suggesting instead that South African soldiers were dying for the president’s financial gain.
“South Africans deserve to know the truth,” Makolo wrote. “You are not supporting the people of DRC to achieve peace. You are sending your troops to fight President Tshisekedi’s war to kill his own people. Please tell your people the truth about the personal interests in mining that you have in the DRC – these are the interests for which, sadly, SANDF soldiers are dying.”
Ramaphosa, whose post on X garnered nearly two million views, defended the deployment as a moral obligation rooted in Africa’s history of solidarity. “As a country, we have a duty of support towards the nations of Africa whose solidarity and material support helped secure our liberation. South Africa will not let up in its support to the people of the DRC so that they may have the peace and security they rightfully deserve,” Ramaphosa stated in his weekly newsletter.
This online clash follows a previous public exchange where Kagame accused Ramaphosa of distorting facts related to the DRC conflict. In a late-night response, Kagame dismissed South Africa’s role as a mediator, stating, “If South Africa wants to contribute to peaceful solutions, that is well and good, but South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator. And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day.”
As the political friction escalates, the tragic loss of 14 SANDF soldiers in the DRC has deepened the crisis. Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, informed Parliament’s defence portfolio committee that the soldiers’ remains, following their deaths in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, would arrive in South Africa on Wednesday. This incident has sparked widespread grief and calls for accountability in South Africa, as questions swirl about the mission’s true purpose.
DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, weighed in on the conflict, emphasizing the need for African unity and condemning the violence that has engulfed the region. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Wagner expressed her distress over the ongoing bloodshed: “I find it particularly distressing when in 2025 we find ourselves in such harrowing situations. The scenes from Goma are unbearable—Africans killing other Africans. This is not just about Rwandan forces killing Congolese, but also South Africans, Malawians, and Tanzanians.”
Wagner confirmed the presence of Rwandan troops on DRC soil, a claim Rwanda has repeatedly denied. She expressed hope that the upcoming joint summit between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC), scheduled for Saturday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, would prioritize diplomacy over personal and political agendas. Both DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame are expected to attend this high-stakes meeting aimed at addressing the deepening crisis.
“This is a moment where we must go beyond personal egos and the motivations that have driven such inhumane actions,” Wagner said. “We need to reverse the tide and open a new chapter for our continent, one that taps into the potential we have as Africans.”
Meanwhile, the rebel group M23, which claims to have taken control of Goma, has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire after fierce clashes with the Congolese military and foreign peacekeepers reportedly left hundreds dead. Wagner, however, dismissed the ceasefire as insufficient, stating, “The M23 has issued a unilateral ceasefire on humanitarian grounds. But for humanitarian access to be re-established, Goma must be demilitarized, and both M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces must immediately withdraw from the DRC.”
The rebel coalition, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which includes M23, declared the truce starting Tuesday. Nevertheless, allegations of Rwanda’s support for M23 continue to strain regional relations, with Kigali steadfastly denying any involvement. As the situation unfolds, the intertwined narratives of political rivalry, alleged economic interests, and the tragic loss of lives cast a long shadow over efforts to achieve peace in the DRC.
