Kagame: Rwanda’s Issue with DR Congo is Security, Not Minerals

By The Inspirer 

President Paul Kagame has reiterated that Rwanda’s primary concern has always been security threats from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), not its mineral wealth.

Kigali has maintained defensive measures along the border due to threats posed by the Congolese army (FARDC) and its allies, including the FDLR, a militia formed by remnants of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

During an interview with American blogger Mario Nawfal, Kagame emphasized that Rwanda is wrongly accused of exploiting DRC’s minerals, while the real issue is the security threat posed by the genocidal militia backed by Kinshasa.

On several occasions, the Congolese government has claimed that Rwanda’s mineral imports are looted from DRC, a narrative widely spread by Western countries. Kagame dismissed these allegations, arguing that those benefiting from Congolese resources continue to manipulate the situation through misinformation.

“Our problem is not minerals. It has nothing to do with minerals. Ours is about security. And once we are not assured of our security, we can’t be thinking about minerals,” he said.

He noted that among the numerous global entities—ranging from China, the US, and Europe to African nations—profiting from DRC’s mineral wealth, Rwanda ranks at the bottom, yet it is the one being blamed for the country’s instability.

Historical and Ongoing Conflict

Kagame highlighted that the ongoing war in eastern DRC stems from historical tensions, particularly the marginalization of Congolese communities of Rwandan origin, some of whom have lived in the region for centuries. He pointed to the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) rebel coalition, which includes M23, as an armed response to Kinshasa’s efforts to uproot these communities.

Rwanda has hosted more than 130,000 Congolese refugees for over two decades, with Kinshasa refusing their return, Kagame said.

The conflict escalated in 2021, with the Congolese army fighting alongside FDLR, Burundian troops, European mercenaries, and South Africa-led SADC forces against the AFC/M23 rebels.

Tracing the origins of the crisis, Kagame recalled how post-genocide Rwanda faced cross-border attacks from genocidal forces that found refuge in Mobutu Sese Seko’s Zaire.

Rwanda later backed Congolese opposition groups to topple Mobutu in the First Congo War. However, after Laurent-Désiré Kabila took power, he turned against Rwanda and revived the genocidal forces, leading to the Second Congo War.

Despite various peace agreements, Kagame said the fundamental issue—the presence of FDLR—remains unresolved, with successive Congolese governments using the militia to destabilize Rwanda.

Questioning the UN’s Role

Kagame also criticized the effectiveness of the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, which has been present for 24 years and spent approximately $40 billion.

“What did they actually come to do? To bring peace? Which peace have they brought? To solve the problem concerning Rwanda’s security and these FDLRs that have lived there for the last 30 years? Nothing,” he said.

The president reiterated that Rwanda has engaged every Congolese administration in discussions to resolve the security issue, but no lasting solution has been implemented.