President Paul Kagame has rejected claims that Rwanda is responsible for the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), saying the war predates Rwanda’s involvement and that those responsible are well known.
He made the remarks while opening the 20th National Umushyikirano Council, highlighting regional security challenges and Rwanda’s stance on the eastern Congo crisis.
“Let me state it clearly, as I have done many times: this war was not started by Rwanda, nor did it originate here. It came from elsewhere—from within Congo and beyond,” Kagame said.
He explained that Rwanda’s primary concern is the presence of armed genocidal groups, including the Interahamwe militia, operating in Congolese forests with political support rooted in genocide ideology. Yet, he said, Rwanda is repeatedly blamed for the instability.
“They ignore the real threat—the Interahamwe armed groups supported and sometimes trained by Congolese authorities—while accusing Rwanda of invading for minerals or territorial expansion. Those who know the facts know the truth,” he said.
President Kagame also criticised the international community’s response, including the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, questioning accountability.
“When MONUSCO was deployed, why was it done? Today, when people refer to the UN or the international community, it is unclear who is accountable. The easiest scapegoat becomes Rwanda—a small country,” he said.
Touching on regional relations, Kagame noted that Rwanda and Burundi are historically close, but Burundi has aligned itself with the DRC in the conflict. Since hostilities resumed between the M23 rebels and the Congolese government, Burundi has deployed troops to eastern Congo, citing support for a neighbouring country allegedly threatened by Rwanda.
Kagame reiterated that Rwanda’s priority is national security and urged the international community to focus on the root causes of instability in eastern Congo rather than assigning blame.
