Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has firmly defended his country’s military posture in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, insisting Kigali will not withdraw what he described as “defensive measures” unless the root security threats are addressed.
“We refuse to remove defensive measures, whether it means troops or whatever else—we call it defensive measures,” Kagame said in an interview with Jeune Afrique.
“And in your logic, why would a threat be against me, and you are asking me to remove my defensive measures, but you are not dealing with a threat? What is the logic?”
The remarks come amid mounting international pressure, including sanctions by the United States Department of the Treasury targeting the Rwanda Defence Force and senior officers over alleged support to the March 23 Movement operating in eastern Congo.
Kagame dismissed the sanctions as misplaced and ineffective, arguing they ignore the root causes of the conflict.
“Sanctions or threats are literally just insults being hurled at Rwanda, as if we have done anything other than defending ourselves,” he said. “It’s like you are blaming the victim and praising the perpetrator.”
Conflict Origins and Security Justification
Kagame maintained that the conflict in eastern Congo “was not started by Rwanda” and instead blamed longstanding instability linked to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda.
“That negligence… made FDLR an issue for a long time, and it continues to constitute a threat against Rwanda, especially when it is being fed and supported by a government,” he said.
He emphasized that Rwanda’s actions are purely defensive, even when they involve cross-border operations.
“If I am defending my border, one morning I’m in five kilometers or ten or twenty because of what I identified as a threat… and in another week they have pulled back. There is no contradiction,” Kagame said. “Defensive measures do not mean one thing.”
Kagame also appeared to acknowledge that such measures can include troop deployments.
“It means you may use equipment, you may use troops on the ground. It means to defend that territory,” he said.
Rejection of One-Sided Obligations
Responding to demands for troop withdrawal, Kagame criticized what he described as an imbalance in international expectations.
“You can’t come up and expect that only one party will fulfil their part of obligation and the other is to be considered somehow, sometime or not at all,” he said.
He insisted that any resolution must be mutual, including action against the FDLR.
“In fact, the DRC… expects Rwanda to do away with these defensive measures, but for them, they are not expected to do anything,” Kagame added.
Uvira, Agreements, and “Selective” Interpretation
On the capture of Uvira by M23 shortly after a December peace agreement, Kagame rejected claims it violated the deal.
“People chose to understand it the way they wanted,” he said. “Uvira did not happen by accident… it was about to happen even as the agreement took place.”
He added that the United States had been kept informed of developments “almost day in, day out.”
Relations with Tshisekedi
Kagame acknowledged strained ties with Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi but struck a measured tone.
“Maybe yes, maybe no,” he said when asked about future understanding. “But I have no problem waiting… I’m comfortable with the status quo.”
He also defended the presence of M23 in key eastern cities such as Goma and Bukavu.
“The situation today is better than it was before… it is better there,” Kagame said. “The whole border now is secure. There is no question about it.”
Addressing claims that Rwanda seeks strategic influence or mineral gains in eastern Congo, Kagame rejected the accusations.
“We want peaceful coexistence,” he said. “The zone controlled by M23 is not an immediate danger to us… but that is not the end of the road.”
On mineral exploitation allegations, Kagame said: “People say we are there because we want minerals. But are you aware that we have our own minerals here? Minerals from outside are also welcome—it depends on the deals.”
Sanctions, Reputation, and Western Policy
Kagame questioned the fairness and rationale behind international sanctions, suggesting they are driven by geopolitical interests.
“Those who apply sanctions, they will do what they want any day,” he said. “You don’t have to have done anything wrong… they act based on interest.”
He warned that such measures do little to resolve the conflict.
“The blame, the sanctions, the threats—it’s easy. But can it give a solution when you are keeping quiet about the real issues?”
On speculation surrounding his brief absence from public view last year, Kagame dismissed concerns.
“Why is three weeks too much? Even a month—you can disappear,” he said. “These days I’ve been learning to take holidays and relax with my grandchildren.”
Kagame’s remarks underline Rwanda’s hardline stance: security concerns, particularly the presence of hostile armed groups in eastern Congo, will continue to justify its actions—regardless of international pressure.
“We have to secure our border,” he said. “There is no question about it.”