President Paul Kagame has said the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) overlooked a clear opportunity to resolve its security crisis by refusing to engage Rwanda in a joint military effort against armed groups destabilizing the region.
Speaking on Sunday at the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Combat Training Centre in Gabiro, Eastern Province, where he commissioned 6,000 officers from the army, police and prisons after completing specialized military courses, Kagame dismissed accusations that Rwanda is behind the violence in eastern Congo, describing them as false and politically motivated.
“The problem is not Rwanda, the problem is their failure to deal with their own issues,” Kagame said.
He stressed that Rwanda has borne the consequences of instability in eastern Congo for decades, especially the continued presence of the FDLR, a militia composed of elements responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Kagame pointed to countries such as Mozambique and the Central African Republic, which chose to work with Rwanda through joint operations to confront insurgencies and restore order.
In both cases, cooperation produced tangible results.
“Countries like Mozambique, the Central African Republic and South Sudan recognized the value of cooperation and achieved results. Congo could have chosen the same path,” Kagame said.
Instead, he noted, Kinshasa opted for confrontation and blame, which has only prolonged the crisis.
The Rwandan leader also rejected international narratives casting Rwanda as an aggressor, saying such claims ignore the country’s role in global and regional peacekeeping.
He highlighted RDF deployments in Mozambique, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan, where Rwandan troops have earned international recognition for professionalism.
“Those who accuse us fail to see the sacrifices our men and women make — not only to protect our people but also to stand with our African brothers and sisters in times of crisis,” Kagame said.
Addressing the newly trained officers, Kagame urged them to carry their responsibilities with discipline and humility, stressing that the RDF is defined not just by carrying weapons but by embodying integrity, vigilance, and service.
Observers note that Kagame’s remarks underline what he views as a missed opportunity: the DRC leadership under President Félix Tshisekedi could have pursued a cooperative security arrangement with Rwanda similar to those seen elsewhere in Africa, but instead chose a path that has deepened instability.