What happened in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo over the past several years exposed what President Paul Kagame described as an unprecedented coalition of military forces and armed groups assembled with one objective: to wage war against Rwanda and destabilise the country.
Speaking at a Unity Club meeting, Kagame said the developments in Goma and other parts of eastern Congo left behind undeniable evidence of the scale of the threat Rwanda had been facing.
“If you look at what has happened in Eastern Congo, and everything we have gone through over the past four or five years, and you look at what we have left behind, there is evidence. There are facts that speak for themselves,” he said.
According to Kagame, the coalition included the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), Wazalendo militias, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), Burundian forces, South African troops and several other groups.
“The whole world came together against Rwanda. The whole world lined up against Rwanda: the FDLR and all the groups associated with it that have been mentioned, the Wazalendo, the Burundian forces, the FARDC, the South Africans, and many others. I would rather not spend time naming them all; there were so many,” he said.
Kagame argued that the size and composition of the force assembled in eastern Congo demonstrated that its mission extended beyond the conflict itself.
“When you look at the scale of what they had assembled there and what they were up against, it is clear that what they were trying to do was wage war against Rwanda, destabilize our country, and reshape it the way they wanted. In fact, they said so themselves,” he said.
The President also referred to the recruitment of foreign mercenaries, saying their presence reflected the confidence of Rwanda’s adversaries that they would achieve their objectives.
“To convince themselves that what they wanted was within reach and that they were going to achieve it, they even brought in mercenaries,” Kagame said.
He recalled that Rwanda later allowed many of those mercenaries to leave through its territory after the fighting, describing the move as a reflection of Rwanda’s confidence and professionalism.
“You know that many of them passed through here. We gave free passage to our enemies, allowing them to leave a war they waged against us, a war that was never theirs to begin with.”
Kagame commended Rwanda’s security forces and those who fought alongside them, saying they deserved recognition for confronting what he described as a major threat to the country’s security.
He concluded by saying Rwanda’s history had taught the country that protecting its sovereignty and survival would always remain a constant responsibility.
“As for Rwanda, we will always be in a struggle for our very existence. Regardless of those who wish us harm, surrounding us from many sides, one thing remains true: we should and will always be a step ahead of them.
“It is our right. It is our will. And our history has taught us that we have within ourselves the capacity to defend and protect ourselves whenever necessary. And that is exactly what we will continue to do.”
