South Africa Accuses Rwanda Amid Escalating Congo Conflict

With the recent capture of Goma—the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo—by M23 rebels, 23 South African soldiers stationed in the area lost their lives. In response, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has accused Rwanda of fuelling the conflict. The escalation has also triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, displacing thousands as violence intensifies.

Cyril Ramaphosa and Paul Kagame

Background of the Conflict

The M23 or March 23 movement (which turned against the DRC government due to the government's unwillingness to implement the 23 March 2009 peace deal with a previous rebel group), a rebel group formed in 2012 in the M23 rebellion of 2012 to 2013 against the DRC government, is a Congolese Tutsi-led rebel military group. Based in eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it operates mainly in the province of North Kivu, which borders both Uganda and Rwanda. The group also acts for financial interests as $800,000/month  is reportedly earned by M23 from the coltan trade it undertakes in the region.

UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said that: “There was no question that there are Rwandan troops in Goma supporting the M23”.

This is not the first time this conflict has been ignited. On November 20th, the M23 also seized the city of Goma. However, the city was later retaken by Congolese and UN troops in late 2012, leading to a ceasefire in 2013.

The conflict did not end there. In 2022, the M23 launched an offensive, capturing the border town of Bunagana. Now, the offensive has been renewed with the support of the Rwanda Defence Force (Up to 4,000 Rwandan troops allegedly operating in DRC, reinforcing claims of direct military involvement), resulting in the deaths of 23 members of the UN peacekeeping force operating under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC).

South Africa’s Involvement

Following the deaths of 13 South African soldiers in the conflict, President Cyril Ramaphosa has accused Rwandan President Paul Kagame of fuelling violence in the region.

Ramaphosa stated: “An escalation by the rebel group M23 and Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) militia is engaging the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and attacking peacekeepers from the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC).”

He further called for: “An immediate end to hostilities, the reversal of territorial expansion by the M23, the withdrawal of external forces from the DRC, and the resumption of peace talks under the Nairobi Process.”

In response, Kagame shifted blame to South Africa, declaring: “The Rwanda Defense Force is an army, not a militia… SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, and it has no place in this situation. 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 the FDLR, which target Rwanda while also threatening to take the war to Rwanda itself.”

He went on to state that “Rwanda will deal with any confrontation from South Africa.”

These tense exchanges highlight the deep divisions over how the conflict should be managed. While Kagame opposes South Africa’s involvement, Ramaphosa condemns Rwanda’s military presence in the DRC. However, South Africa also has a diplomatic responsibility to seek a peaceful resolution to this escalating crisis. With the situation increasingly resembling an invasion, it is crucial that South Africa remains engaged to prevent a larger conflict between African nations.

Humanitarian Impact

This conflict is also catastrophic for the already dire humanitarian situation. It has forced 4.6 million inhabitants to move to a safer place to live  with 400,000 displaced in 2025 alone and has seen terrible atrocities committed in the region.  Resolving this conflict is therefore not only crucial for diplomatic reasons, but also for the very people that grew up in the region and are now caught in the crossfire.

What’s more, the situation has further hindered any potential development in the region, as the population is unable to work or innovate while their lives are under constant threat. In the midst of ongoing conflict, collaboration becomes impossible. With the fighting at risk of spreading to other regions, even more countries could be affected.

International Reactions

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated: “This offensive has a devastating toll on the civilian population and heightened the risk of a broader regional war. Cease support to the M23 and withdraw from DRC territory.”

As the conflict is getting worse, there is mounting international pressure for Rwanda to cease its aid to  the M23 group. If Rwanda keeps supporting this offensive, it will have much to lose as the consequences will be severe. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that Rwanda’s involvement in the invasion has jeopardised $1 billion in global aid. Meanwhile, France is reportedly rallying Western support for a UN Security Council resolution explicitly naming Rwanda as responsible for the attacks.

To live is to hurt others, and through others, to hurt oneself. - Albert Camus

What KABA sees in this

Firstly, we would like to acknowledge the sombre nature of this article. Our mission is to promote entrepreneurship in Africa and highlight its progress. However, we also believe that to fully appreciate the continent’s achievements, one must consider the broader picture, including its challenges.

This situation is complex and may deteriorate further in the near future. Yet, setting aside geopolitical perspectives, one undeniable truth remains: the people in the affected regions do not deserve such suffering. These events underscore the critical need for a strong and sovereign pan-African organization, such as the African Union, which currently lacks the influence necessary to resolve conflicts of this scale effectively.

That being said, while some parts of Africa continue to face difficulties, the continent as a whole has made remarkable progress over the past decade. It is essential to recognize both the hardships and the advancements to foster a more balanced and informed perspective on Africa’s trajectory.

Written by Thomas Viarnaud