Rwanda dismisses Harare summit’s “biased” resolutions on DRC conflict

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HARARE – Rwanda has formally rejected the resolutions made during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit held in Harare, Zimbabwe, on January 31, 2025.

The summit addressed the escalating conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where various armed groups, including the M23 rebels, have been active.

Rwanda’s rejection stems from accusations made at the summit against the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), implicating them in the conflict alongside the M23 rebels.

The Rwandan government has refuted the claims, asserting that its military activities are purely defensive, aimed at protecting its borders from spillover violence due to the DRC’s internal strife.

“Rwanda rejects the accusations against the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) made in the statement of the Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held on 31 January 2025.

“The RDF defends Rwanda’s borders from threats and protects civilians, it does not attack civilians,” the Rwandan government stated in a statement.

“SADC has deployed an offensive force, SAMIDRC (the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo), to support the war of the Government of DRC against its own people-the M23 and the members of their community-many of who have fled as refugees to Rwanda and throughout the region.

“The Government of the DRC is also bent on attacking Rwanda and over throwing its government, as has been repeatedly and publicly stated by President Tshisekedi.

“It is clear that SAMIDRC together with coalition partners that include the Burundian armed forces, the FDLR and European mercenaries are central to the conflict, and should not be there because they are adding to the problems that already existed.

“The argument that SAMIDRC was invited by the Government of the DRC is rendered void by the fact that they are there to fight the citizens of that country, and effectively bring war to Rwanda.”

The SADC summit had resolved to dispatch defence ministers, chiefs of defence, and Troop Contributing Countries to the region to address the deteriorating security situation.

The summit also condemned the recent attacks by the M23 rebel group and RDF on the Government Forces of DRC, the SAMIDRC, and the civilian population in North Kivu.

“Recent information coming from Goma on what has been discovered, and the documentary evidence of attack preparations, planned together with the foreign forces fighting in eastern DRC, including the FDLR, indicate that combat objectives were not limited to defeating M23, but also attacking Rwanda.

“Rwanda has consistently advocated for a political solution to the ongoing conflict and welcomes the proposed joint summit of the East African Community and SADC,” Rwanda further stated.

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Gonye C Maoneke
1 year ago

Mnangagwa and his Sadac commreds never do anything valued, they lacked legitimacy, for most of them, rigged their elections, to be come leaders. They should start with reform, before go on to other issues.

Medic Sasha Chipoya
1 year ago

Hau ko why kusuma Rwanda, Rwanda isn't a sadc country I repeat Rwanda is not a sadc country..

Amon Washaya Mudzingwa
1 year ago

Rwanda knows better than any other African neighbour, its ethnic wars.

Livit Kevin
1 year ago

Dismissed on what ground bcz Rwanda is not DRC.

Tinashe Moyanaa
1 year ago

Yaa not DRC but must be in, as a member of sadc

Sabelo Digoxin Mbulawa
1 year ago

President must be under pressure
SADC Chairman , war gripping Africa…..as chairman he was supposing to extinguish this unless he's blank on his job description
Secondly zim war vets are eating hot chilli , spitting venom to Dambudzo to step down or else there will be bl00d shed
This 2025 is going to be practically scary, General VP wants the seat like yesterday
Once they prolong Dambudzo on the seat , he will avariciously silence all invaders quietly quickly just like the way he did on the husband to Joice Mujuru

Mduduzi Ndlovu
1 year ago

How can party disadvantaging it's people go thousand miles to try and resolve other issues

Luxmore Kuchenga
1 year ago

Every decision coming from Harare is biased 🤣🤣🤣🤣

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