Rwandan President Paul Kagame has denied that his country’s troops are present in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where fighting between the M23 rebel group and Congolese soldiers has killed over 900 people. Despite this, many believe Rwanda backs the M23 rebels and is involved in the conflict.
According to UN estimates, around 3,000-4,000 Rwandan soldiers are supervising and supporting M23 fighters in the DRC. Kagame, who is commander-in-chief of the Rwandan Defence Force, claimed he didn’t know if his troops were in the country. He also stated that Rwanda would do “whatever it takes” to protect itself.
The conflict has escalated following the M23’s advance into the city of Goma, with at least 900 bodies recovered from the streets since violence erupted. The rebel group claims it receives no support from Rwanda and is fighting against its ally, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
Other countries, including Angola and the Southern African Development Community, have confirmed Rwanda’s military presence in the DRC. Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said 16 people have been killed in Rwanda due to shelling from the fighting in Goma.
The M23 rebel alliance vows to install a new administration in Goma and march on to capture more territories, including the neighboring South Kivu province and Kinshasa.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/03/africa/rwanda-kigame-troops-dr-congo-intl/index.html