In an interview with IGIHE, Minister Nduhungirehe addressed statements from a recent SADC extraordinary summit, where the bloc alleged that RDF troops were operating in DRC’s North Kivu province and attacking Congolese forces, SADC troops under SAMIDRC, and civilians.
“There were statements in the SADC meeting that are completely unacceptable—blatant lies claiming that RDF is in DRC and responsible for civilian deaths,” Nduhungirehe stated.
He pointed out that these accusations follow similar unfounded claims by South Africa’s government, particularly from its Minister of Defence. Nduhungirehe linked the SADC allegations to recent tensions between Rwanda and South Africa, which he attributed to certain South African officials.
“The root of this issue is some South African leaders, particularly their Minister of Defence. However, Presidents Kagame and Ramaphosa had two productive discussions last week, agreeing that a ceasefire is needed and that DRC must engage in dialogue with M23.”
During their talks, President Ramaphosa reportedly acknowledged that South African soldiers killed in a recent clash were attacked by DRC’s army (FARDC), not M23 or RDF.
Additionally, Nduhungirehe revealed that Ramaphosa requested Rwanda to allow SADC troops access to water, electricity, and food, a request President Kagame agreed to facilitate.
However, the situation escalated after South Africa’s Defence and Foreign Ministers falsely claimed that Ramaphosa had given Kagame an ultimatum, leading to a response from both Nduhungirehe and Kagame.
“I responded on X, correcting the false claims that RDF had been warned. The truth is, SAMIDRC troops are not peacekeepers—they are fighting alongside FARDC, FDLR, and mercenaries.”
Rwanda maintains that SADC troops were deployed to fight alongside the Congolese army, rather than to restore peace, as they claim. Kigali has also accused DRC’s government of collaborating with FDLR, Burundian forces, and European mercenaries in planning attacks against Rwanda.
“Recent intelligence from Goma confirms that the military buildup in Eastern DRC was not just aimed at fighting M23, but at launching an attack on Rwanda,” the Rwandan government stated.
While Kigali insists RDF will not attack civilians, it has made it clear that its forces will defend Rwanda’s borders and protect its citizens from any cross-border threats.
Meanwhile, discussions between EAC and SADC leaders have been proposed to de-escalate tensions and find a regional solution. Rwanda has indicated its willingness to engage diplomatically, but remains firm in rejecting what it calls “baseless accusations”.
Kagame made these clarifications after observing that South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself had distorted the content of their recent conversations in the media.
“I held two conversations this week with President Ramaphosa on the situation in Eastern DRC, including earlier today. What has been said about these conversations in the media by South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself contains a lot of distortion, deliberate attacks, and even lies,” Kagame responded on his X account to a message posted by Ramaphosa.
“If words can change so much from a conversation to a public statement, it says a lot about how these very important issues are being managed,” he added.
{{South Africa’s deployment in DRC }}
South African troops have been fighting in the DRC as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in DRC (SAMIDRC), supporting the Congolese Army and its allied militias, including Wazalendo, the FDLR genocidal force, Burundian troops, and mercenaries, in the war against the M23 rebel group, which claims to be fighting for the rights of the marginalised Tutsi community in the country.
The coalition was formed amidst Kinshasa’s statements threatening to support whoever intends to overthrow Kigali’s leadership.
During the fighting, South African soldiers were among the casualties, intensifying criticism over the country’s contested involvement in eastern DRC.
Following recent discussions between Kagame and Ramaphosa, South African Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga revealed that President Cyril Ramaphosa had issued a warning to Rwandan forces, stating that continued hostilities against the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in the DRC would be considered a declaration of war.
“It is just that at the moment when they were firing above our heads, the president did warn them to say, ‘If you are going to fire, we will take it as a declaration of war, and we will have to defend our people,’ and that’s when the firing stopped,” Motshekga said.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of backing M23, an allegation Kigali has consistently refuted, instead urging Kinshasa to resolve its internal issues without dragging a neighbouring country into its crisis.
In a message shared on his X account, Ramaphosa—who did not contest the ‘warning’ attributed to him by Motshekga—confirmed that his country had lost 13 soldiers in the volatile region.
He attributed the escalation of violence to the M23 rebel group and what he referred to as the “Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) militia.”
He framed South Africa’s military engagement under the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) as a peacekeeping effort aimed at stabilizing the region.
However, in his response, Kagame dismissed these claims, asserting that ‘the RDF is an army, not a militia’.
He further criticized SAMIDRC’s role in the conflict, stating, “SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, and it has no place in this situation. It was authorized by SADC as a belligerent force engaging in offensive combat operations to help the DRC Government fight against its own people, working alongside genocidal armed groups like FDLR which target Rwanda.”
Kagame also highlighted how SAMIDRC’s deployment displaced the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), which had been engaged in peacekeeping efforts. “This contributed to the failure of the negotiation processes,” he noted, challenging the notion that the SADC force was fostering peace.
{{Distorted truth}}
One of the key points Kagame refuted was Ramaphosa’s alleged “warning” to Rwanda regarding its role in the conflict.
“President Ramaphosa has never given a ‘warning’ of any kind, unless it was delivered in his local language which I do not understand,” Kagame remarked, dismissing any suggestion of a formal reprimand.
Furthermore, Kagame revealed a crucial detail from his conversations with Ramaphosa that contradicts the official South African stance: “President Ramaphosa confirmed to me that M23 did not kill the soldiers from South Africa, FARDC did.”
This statement directly challenges South Africa’s claim that its troops were targeted by M23 and raises questions about the accuracy of Ramaphosa’s public declarations.
While Ramaphosa portrayed South Africa’s military presence in the DRC as a stabilizing force, Kagame argued that South Africa is in no position to act as a mediator.
“If South Africa wants to contribute to peaceful solutions, that is well and good, but South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator,” he stated.
Kagame also made it clear that if South Africa seeks confrontation rather than diplomacy, Rwanda is prepared to respond accordingly: “And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day.”
The war in eastern DRC has been exacerbated by the presence of multiple armed groups, historical grievances, and geopolitical interests.
Rwanda has long accused the DRC government of working with the FDLR, a militia composed of remnants of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
After the resurgence of M23 in 2022, the rebel group has since captured different key towns, including the recently captured Goma, considered the capital of North Kivu Province.
The recent fighting has led to the evacuation of UN staff through Rwanda. Additionally, some Congolese soldiers fled to Rwanda, and over 280 mercenaries fighting alongside the Congolese Army surrendered.
On Tuesday, January 29, 2025, they were granted passage to return to their home countries through Rwanda.”
Kagame’s direct rebuttal to Ramaphosa’s lies highlights the ongoing struggle for an accurate representation of the conflict, while also raising fundamental questions about the role of external forces in the DRC’s turmoil.
The regional leaders convened virtually on January 29, 2025, for the 24th extraordinary summit to address the deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC, which early this week culminated in the capture of Goma, the capital and largest city of the North Kivu Province.
In a post-summit statement, the leaders emphasized that a peaceful settlement is the only viable solution to the ongoing crisis.
“The summit called for a peaceful settlement of the conflicts and strongly urged the government of the DRC to directly engage with all stakeholders, including the M23 and other armed groups that have grievances,” the statement read.
Notably absent from the summit was DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, who has previously resisted direct negotiations with M23, labeling them a terrorist group. His absence has raised concerns about Kinshasa’s willingness to embrace dialogue, even as pressure mounts for a political resolution to the conflict.
Beyond the push for dialogue, the summit also demanded an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access to affected populations.
“The summit called on all parties to the conflict in eastern DRC to cease hostilities, observe an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and facilitate humanitarian access to the affected population,” the leaders said.
The meeting further condemned recent attacks on diplomatic missions in Kinshasa, urging the Congolese government to ensure the safety of foreign embassies, diplomats, and their staff.
Violent protests were witnessed in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, on Tuesday as demonstrators targeted multiple foreign missions in response to the fall of Goma to the M23 group fighting for the rights of the minority Tutsi community. The mobs attacked the embassies of Rwanda, the United States, France, South Africa, Uganda, and Kenya.
The security crisis in eastern DRC has drawn increased involvement from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which has deployed regional forces to assist the Congolese military. South Africa, in particular, has sent 2,900 troops as part of a broader effort to combat armed groups, with at least 13 soldiers confirmed dead in recent clashes.
Acknowledging SADC’s role, the EAC summit proposed a joint EAC-SADC meeting to coordinate responses.
“The summit decided on a joint EAC-SADC summit to deliberate on the way forward and mandated the chairperson to consult with the chairperson of SADC on the urgent convening of the same in the next few days,” the leaders resolved.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who chaired the summit in his capacity as the chair of EAC, has previously argued that a military solution alone will not end the conflict.
“Engagement, dialogue, and consultations are the only viable way out of the situation in DRC,” Ruto said earlier this week. “A direct engagement with M23 and all the other stakeholders in the theatre in eastern DRC is a necessity.”
The summit was attended by EAC leaders, including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Speaking on the evacuation process, Ozonnia Ojielo, the UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, commended the Rwandan government for its quick decision-making and exceptional efforts to ensure the safety of those at risk.
“I thank the government of Rwanda for the very timely approval. Because the security situation was evolving, which meant that the lives of those UN staff and their dependents were threatened, they could have become casualties of the fighting. But by the speed of the decision-making by the government of Rwanda, it meant that they were eager to help to secure free passage for these UN national staff,” Ojielo told members of the press on Tuesday.
He noted that, given the nature of the conflict, many evacuees fled without official documents. Despite this, Rwanda stepped in to host them and arranged hotel accommodations, even before securing funds for their stay.
More than 1,800 UN personnel and their families were evacuated to Rwanda on Monday after the conflict between the FARDC coalition forces and M23 rebels intensified in the eastern DRC. The individuals crossed through the Grande Barrière border post in Rubavu District.
The situation escalated after M23 captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, on Monday, following the capture of several other strategic towns, including Sake and Masisi, over the past few weeks.
Ojielo described the government’s efforts at the border as highly organized and effective.
“You’ll be surprised that by 6 a.m. that same Monday, the entire architecture of government was at the border, on the Rubavu side. From state security, police, you name that, medical personnel, they were all there,” the official remarked.
Recognizing the efforts of ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET) and the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), he praised the seamless process through which evacuees were identified, transported, and accommodated.
“At Kigali Pele Stadium, the highest levels of government were present, coordinated by MINAFFET through Permanent Secretary, [and] the Inspector General of Police was in charge. People arrived by buses, they were processed. Rwanda Convention Bureau made elaborate arrangements with various hotels, people were put in buses, and taken to the hotels,” he explained.
The first group of evacuees, totalling 660 individuals—mostly women and children—arrived at Kigali Pele Stadium on Monday afternoon after being transported from the Rubavu border in military convoys. By the end of the day, over 1,832 individuals had been processed and accommodated in hotels.
“I cannot tell you how grateful we are as a United Nations country team in Rwanda to our government for the truly exceptional mobilization of capacities and resources of the government of Rwanda to support these UN staff come through,” Ojielo added.
The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC has forced multiple international organizations to evacuate non-essential personnel.
Rwanda became a critical evacuation hub after Goma’s airspace and waterways were shut down amid allegations by M23 that the Congolese army was using the airport to load bombs targeting civilians.
Ojielo noted that in the coming days, the focus will be on the safe return of non-essential UN staff to their home countries and continued support for refugees in Rwanda. Many of the UN personnel hosted by Rwanda are originally from Congo. Plans are in place to facilitate the return of those wishing to travel to Kinshasa by air.
“Though not all of those evacuated were refugees, Rwanda continues to host thousands of refugees, many of whom have fled the DRC over the past two decades,” Ojielo added.
He urged the international community to increase support for Rwanda’s ongoing efforts.
“I appeal to the international community to assist Rwanda in supporting the refugees, especially those who are still here or may come, as this is a significant burden for the country to shoulder,” Ojielo concluded.
Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, the spokesperson for the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), confirmed the incident in an interview with IGIHE on Monday, January 27, 2025.
Reports indicate that the artillery was fired by members of the terrorist group FDLR, which opposes the Rwandan government, alongside FARDC forces. Some of the shots were fired under military protection.
Brigadier General Rwivanga noted that the artillery was fired by the forces as they fled Goma, which came under the control of M23 fighters in the early hours of Monday morning.
“The fatalities and injuries are due to artillery fire. Looking at the situation, they are fleeing, setting up their hideouts, and firing blindly into Rwanda, not targeting soldiers but rather civilians,” he stated.
The spokesperson further noted that RDF soldiers responded with gunfire to push back the forces and minimize casualties.
“These are not direct attacks on military positions; these are defensive strategies to reduce the impact of the gunfire on civilians. The RDF is simply firing back at the source of the fire,” he explained.
The spokesperson reassured the public not to be alarmed, assuring them that security measures will continue as usual to protect citizens.
The capture of Goma, a key city in North Kivu Province also prompted officials to flee by boat to Bukavu.
Some government soldiers in Goma chose to surrender to M23, handing over their weapons, while others fled to Rwanda.
The soldiers who sought refuge in Rwanda were welcomed by security authorities in Rubavu District.
Over 20 individuals crossed the border with firearms, including ammunition, which they handed over to the Rwanda Defense Forces.
One of the Congolese soldiers who fled to Rwanda after the capture of Goma revealed that he surrendered because the FARDC forces were being defeated by M23.
He said, “I have arrived in Rwanda fleeing the state of war. We fought many battles, but M23 was winning. We came here to surrender to the [authorities].”
Alongside FARDC soldiers, United Nations personnel who were in Goma also sought refuge in Rwanda. They are expected to be taken to Kigali and accommodated in various hotels.
Currently, M23 controls the city of Goma and has declared the airspace closed, halting all activities on the Congolese side of Lake Kivu.
The group has urged Goma’s residents to remain calm, assuring them that the city has been liberated and everything is under control.
They sought passage through Rwanda’s Grande Barrière border to facilitate their relocation to Kinshasa.
The evacuation comes after M23 closed all other exit routes from Goma, including air and land corridors. Many UN staff members were accompanied by their families during this operation.
While the conflict in Eastern DRC has persisted for years, it has escalated dramatically in recent days. M23 has captured several towns, including Goma, a key city in North Kivu Province.
On Sunday night, January 26, international organizations, including the UN, announced plans to evacuate non-essential staff from Goma.
By Monday morning, January 27, 2025, the first group of evacuees had crossed into Rwanda, where they were received in Rubavu. Many expressed uncertainty about their next steps.
One UN staff member reported the absence of border security on the DRC side, with gates locked and no personnel present.
Didier Tebonge, a MONUSCO driver with 10 years of experience, shared his observations: “On the way here, we saw FARDC soldiers stationed near the main hospital and other locations. I didn’t personally see any M23 soldiers on the roads, and the journey was smooth. There were only FARDC soldiers along the way.”
At the border, Tebonge noted that only police officers were present on the DRC side, with no military personnel in sight.
Upon entering Rwanda, UN staff were received by the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration. They were issued documents indicating their evacuation route from Goma to Kigali and completed forms listing the names of their companions.
Tebonge expressed uncertainty about their next steps: “We believe international humanitarian organizations facilitated this evacuation through Rwanda because no one knows if the conflict will escalate or subside. We are headed to Kigali, and from there, we may relocate to Kinshasa.”
Aboubakar, a Goma resident, described the city as chaotic on the night of January 26:
“Last night in Goma was extremely dangerous. I stayed at a MONUSCO camp, but even there, we could hear gunfire and see flashes of light in the sky. While fleeing, we saw abandoned weapons and military vehicles left behind by the FARDC.”
On January 25, M23 demanded that FARDC troops and allied groups, including FDLR, Wazalendo, and Burundian forces, surrender their weapons. The group later declared Goma’s airspace closed, accusing the Congolese military of using it to transport weapons to harm civilians.
Aboubakar added: “There are no FARDC soldiers left in the city; they’ve all fled. The situation is dire.”
After crossing the border, evacuees were transported to Kigali, where they will first gather at Kigali Pelé Stadium. From there, they will be accommodated in various hotels across the city.
Rwanda is providing logistical support for the evacuation, including transportation to Kigali. The UN is responsible for covering accommodations and other related needs for the evacuees.
The group’s political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, confirmed the takeover in the early hours of January 27, 2025.
“We urge the residents of Goma to remain calm. The liberation of the city has been successfully carried out, and the situation is under control,” Kanyuka stated.
As M23 fighters moved into the city, Kanyuka called on DRC soldiers to surrender their weapons to United Nations peacekeeping forces under MONUSCO.
He also instructed them to gather at Goma’s Stade de l’Unité before 3 a.m., warning that after the deadline, the city would be fully under M23’s control.
Uruguayan peacekeepers with the UN mission reported that many DRC soldiers began fleeing M23 advances late last night.
M23 has also temporarily suspended activities on Lake Kivu and Lake Albert, pending further announcements.
The group’s capture of Goma followed a 48-hour ultimatum issued to DRC forces, demanding they lay down their arms to avoid turning the city into a battlefield.
This ultimatum came after several days of intense fighting around Sake and the outskirts of Goma, which began on January 23.
Despite assistance from UN forces and the Southern African Development Community (SAMIDRC), the DRC military was eventually overpowered, forcing the withdrawal of allied troops and paving the way for M23 to seize control of the city.
Reports of the death of Ntawunguka, also known as Omega began circulating on Saturday morning. He is said to have died during clashes between the M23 rebel group and a coalition of forces including the FDLR in Nyiragongo territory.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe also mentioned the death of Ntawunguka while addressing the ongoing cooperation between the Congolese army, FARDC and the FDLR.
In a post on X, Minister Nduhungirehe pointed out that the collaboration was evidenced by a recent visit by the First Lady of the DRC, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, to a hospital to see FDLR fighters injured in combat with the M23 fighters.
“I guess that we don’t need any more evidence of the support that this Rwandan genocidal force, which has spread its extermination ideology to the whole FARDC military coalition, benefits at the highest level in Kinshasa,” Minister Nduhungirehe stated.
He added, “It is worth noting that this visit happened few hours after the permanent neutralization of “General” Pacifique Ntawunguka, the FDLR top commander known as “Omega”, despite the attempts by the FARDC military coalition to save his life.”
Ntawunguka, also known by aliases Mulefu, Nzeri, and Israël, was born in 1964 in Gasebeya Sector, Gaseke Commune, in the former Gisenyi Prefecture, now part of Ngororero District in Rwanda’s Western Province.
He attended primary school in Gaseke and secondary school at Rwankeli before enrolling at Collège Christ Roi in Nyanza. Later, he pursued military training at ESM (École Supérieure Militaire) in Kigali. After ESM, he furthered his education in aviation in Egypt, Greece, and France.
When the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi began, Omega was leading the 94th Battalion operating in Mutara. He was defeated by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and sustained a leg injury during the fighting before retreating to Kigali.
Following the defeat of the former Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR), Omega fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) along with other ex-FAR members.
Over the years, efforts were made to persuade Ntawunguka to return to Rwanda, but he consistently refused. In 2016, this was highlighted by Gen. (Rtd) James Kabarebe, who recounted his personal efforts to convince Omega to return.
Gen. Kabarebe stated: “I personally called him and said, ‘Pacifique, you’re educated, a pilot trained in France. You’re not ignorant. You’ve been in the Congo forests for over 20 years.
Don’t you see what you’re doing is futile? You’ll never win this war. Why not reconsider your actions? And we know you didn’t participate in the genocide because you were in France at the time for aviation training. What are you fighting for? Are you afraid of facing justice?’
“He listened to me and replied, ‘General, let me tell you one thing. I will return to Rwanda only when there isn’t a single Tutsi left in that country. If there’s nothing else you wanted to tell me, let’s end this conversation here.’ From that moment, I never spoke to Ntawunguka again.”
Dr. Nsanzimana shared this update on Thursday, January 16, 2025, during a presentation to the Senate about the progress of implementing the National Health Policy and efforts to improve primary healthcare services.
Plans to relocate CHUK were first unveiled in 2013, aiming to move the hospital out of Kigali’s city center.
The decision was influenced by increasing congestion in the area due to rapid commercial developments.
According to the minister, the renovation and expansion of the new facilities to house CHUK in Masaka is in its advanced stages with expectations for the relocation process to begin within the set timeframe.
“There are only a few months left. We expect to finalize everything by June or August, for the hospital’s relocation to begin,” Dr. Nsanzimana stated.
He also confirmed that the current CHUK site would continue to offer some healthcare services.
“The current CHUK site will still be used for necessary health services, particularly those that can complement nearby hospitals like Muhima and Nyarugenge. These services are being carefully planned, as demand for them continues to grow. Teams are working to ensure that once the construction and relocation are complete, everything will follow smoothly,” he explained.
“This is not a rushed process because relocating a hospital and its services requires thorough preparation. Residents need to be informed, equipment must be installed, and resources organized to ensure that services are not interrupted,” he added.
The new CHUK facility will be located in the former Masaka Hospital premises, which have undergone significant upgrades.
As of November 2024, 80% of the renovation work is complete. The project, implemented by the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Health, is being financed by the Chinese Government.
The project is estimated to cost Frw 85 billion and will accommodate 827 patients, nearly doubling its current capacity of 400.
The design includes three multi-story buildings, some rising five stories high, to provide expanded patient care.
Additionally, the hospital will feature facilities for research, teaching, and specialized services, contributing to the growth of healthcare in the region.
The Masaka area, designated for healthcare services, is expected to become a hub for medical tourism, further enhancing Rwanda’s healthcare landscape.
“The new site is already home to other healthcare facilities, with more under consideration. For example, the Research Institute against Digestive Cancer [IRCAD] has been operational there for some time, and new laboratories are also set to be built in the area,” he noted.
