HARARE – Rwanda has formally rejected the resolutions made throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit held in Harare, Zimbabwe, on January 31, 2025.
The summit addressed the escalating battle within the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the place varied armed teams, together with the M23 rebels, have been lively.
Rwanda’s rejection stems from accusations made on the summit in opposition to the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), implicating them within the battle alongside the M23 rebels.
The Rwandan authorities has refuted the claims, asserting that its navy actions are purely defensive, geared toward defending its borders from spillover violence because of the DRC’s inside strife.
“Rwanda rejects the accusations in opposition to the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) made within the assertion 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 authorities acknowledged in an announcement.
“SADC has deployed an offensive pressure, SAMIDRC (the SADC Mission within the Democratic Republic of Congo), to help the conflict of the Government of DRC in opposition to its personal people-the M23 and the members of their community-many of who’ve fled as refugees to Rwanda and all through the area.
“The Government of the DRC can be bent on attacking Rwanda and over throwing its authorities, as has been repeatedly and publicly acknowledged by President Tshisekedi.
“It is evident that SAMIDRC along with coalition companions that embrace the Burundian armed forces, the FDLR and European mercenaries are central to the battle, and shouldn’t be there as a result of they’re including to the issues 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 area to deal with the deteriorating safety state of affairs.
The summit additionally condemned the current assaults by the M23 insurgent group and RDF on the Government Forces of DRC, the SAMIDRC, and the civilian inhabitants in North Kivu.
“Recent info coming from Goma on what has been found, and the documentary proof of assault preparations, deliberate along with the overseas forces combating in japanese DRC, together with the FDLR, point out that fight aims weren’t restricted to defeating M23, but additionally 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 additional acknowledged.
