South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned Rwanda that any attack on South African troops stationed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) would be considered an act of war.
The warning was relayed by Defence Minister Angie Motshekga during a cabinet lekgotla on Wednesday. Ramaphosa’s office confirmed that he had spoken with Rwandan President Paul Kagame earlier in the week, stressing the urgency of a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks.
Tensions have escalated following the deaths of 13 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers in clashes with M23 rebels near Goma. The troops, deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and UN peacekeeping missions, were caught in crossfire between Congolese and Rwandan forces.
Motshekga emphasized that South Africa remains in dialogue with all regional stakeholders, including Rwanda, amid allegations of Rwandan military involvement in eastern DRC. She noted that while relations with Rwanda have remained largely amicable, gunfire near South African positions had raised concerns.
“The president made it clear that if South African troops were directly targeted, it would be taken as a declaration of war, requiring us to defend our soldiers. After this warning, the firing stopped,” Motshekga said.
She also dismissed claims that South African forces in the DRC were under-equipped, stating that military leaders in Goma had not reported any ammunition shortages. Reinforcements have been dispatched due to the intensifying conflict.
Both the DRC government and the UN have confirmed the presence of Rwandan troops in Goma, backing M23 rebels. While Rwanda insists it is acting in self-defense against threats from Congolese militias, it has not directly acknowledged deploying forces across the border.
In response to the volatile situation, South African troops agreed with M23 leaders to hoist a white flag, signaling their neutrality in the conflict. Motshekga confirmed that a temporary ceasefire had been arranged to allow for free passage and avoid further hostilities.