DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi vows ‘vigorous’ response to M23 rebels in Goma

Tshisekedi paid tribute to the Sadc soldiers “fighting alongside us” and UN forces who had died in the wake of the rebel assault in Goma.

Thirteen South African peacekeepers have been killed in the deadly conflict in Goma, which has heightened tensions between South Africa and Rwanda.

Kagame said Rwanda was ready for a confrontation with South Africa if necessary, following a claim by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that M23 rebels and Rwandan forces were responsible for the deaths.

In a strongly worded statement directly responding to Ramaphosa on X, Kagame accused him of distorting their private conversations about the volatile situation.

“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. And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day,” he said.

The exchange marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations, whose relationship has been fragile for several years.

On Wednesday, Angola called for the Congolese and Rwandan leaders to meet urgently in Luanda.

The country which mediated a failed attempt at talks in December before the M23 launched its offensive, also called for the resumption of East African Community-led discussions relating to the issue of M23 and other armed groups in DR Congo.

It came as Tshisekedi visited Luanda for discussions on the next steps in the Angola-led talks.

Both the EAC-led and the Luanda peace efforts have in the past failed to resolve the crisis.

Additional reporting by Nomsa Maseko in Johannesburg and Barbara Plett in Nairobi