- Kagame harshly rebukes nations imposing sanctions on Rwanda, telling them to “go to hell.”
- Rwanda accused of backing M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo, with reports of 4,000 Rwandan troops in the region.
- EU and US have already imposed sanctions on Rwandan officials; UK, Canada, and Germany halt some aid.
- M23 captured and later exited Walikale, in what peace sources say was a goodwill move.
- Kagame and DRC’s Tshisekedi agreed on ceasefire after Doha talks brokered by Qatar.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has issued a bold and unapologetic statement in response to international sanctions slapped on Kigali over its alleged military support for M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Speaking at the start of genocide memorial week, Kagame dismissed the measures with a blunt message:
“If anyone comes and says they’re going to sanction us—what? Go to hell.”
He added that countries should fix their own problems instead of interfering in Rwanda’s affairs, though he did not name any specific nations.
Tensions Escalate Over M23 Advances
The M23 rebel group, widely believed to be backed by Rwanda, has captured several key areas in eastern DRC including parts of Goma and Bukavu, sparking global concern. According to UN experts, nearly 4,000 Rwandan troops are believed to be active in Congo, offering support to the rebels.
In response, the European Union in March imposed sanctions on three Rwandan military commanders, just weeks after the United States sanctioned a Rwandan government minister. Other countries like Canada, Germany, and the UK have scaled back aid and restricted trade dealings.
M23 Withdraws from Walikale
In a surprising twist, M23 fighters pulled out of Walikale, a town they had recently taken—the furthest west the group has reached since 2012. A source close to peace efforts in Doha, Qatar, described the move as a “gesture of goodwill” aimed at supporting ongoing negotiations.
Earlier this month, representatives from both Kinshasa and the M23 met in Qatar for informal peace talks, highlighting a flicker of diplomatic progress.
Ceasefire Talks and Deep-Rooted Conflict
The back-and-forth battlefield developments come just weeks after Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi met in Doha, where both leaders pledged to support an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire.” However, the conflict’s underlying causes run deep.
Eastern DRC remains volatile, with mineral wealth such as lithium, cobalt, gold, tin, and tantalum both powering global tech and fueling violent insurgencies. These resources continue to fund armed groups and rebel factions, making peace elusive in one of Africa’s most resource-rich but unstable regions.
