Rwanda’s leader, Paul Kagame, spoke out on Thursday, pushing for his nation to rely more on itself. This comes as there’s growing talk in the US about adding tougher sanctions because of Rwanda’s role in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The small country in the Great Lakes region is facing more heat from around the world for backing the M23 rebel group. Last year, M23 took control of large areas in eastern Congo.
A peace agreement between Rwanda and Congo, put together with help from former US President Donald Trump, got signed in Washington not long ago. But just days after, M23 captured another key city, Uvira. There was strong agreement from both sides in a US congressional group recently to push for more sanctions on Rwanda.
At an event in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, Kagame stressed the importance of standing on their own.
He talked about committing to self-reliance so that Rwanda’s future doesn’t hinge on chance or the kindness of others who might help one day and pull back the next.
Self-reliance is our top goal, he emphasized.
Rwanda says it’s only in eastern Congo to defend against a militia made up of leftovers from the groups behind the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. They deny any direct military action. Kagame seemed to hint at some involvement in Congo.
When people ask if you’re in Congo, if you say no, then the steps you took for defense get ignored. And if you say yes, that turns into the biggest issue everyone focuses on.
For the first time, Rwanda admitted to working directly on security with M23 and its political group, the Alliance Fleuve Congo.
This coordination is to stop another cross-border threat like in the late 1990s that could put Rwanda at risk.