Kagame: If SADC Forces Had Attacked Rwanda, They Would Have Perished

“If people knew what was found in areas like Goma, Bukavu, and elsewhere, they would understand. This was never just about M23—it was about Rwanda"

Kagame speaking at the Liberation Day cocktail in Kigali on Friday evening

Kigali, Rwanda | President Paul Kagame has claimed that a cache of military hardware discovered in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was part of a coordinated plan by Congolese and regional forces to overthrow his government. 

Speaking in Kigali on Friday, Kagame said the weapons and military buildup were evidence of a broader strategy to destabilize Rwanda under the guise of fighting the M23 rebellion.

“In recent months, they sent in arms, they sent in soldiers, they sent in everything—not to fight M23, but to support a government that is killing its own people and aiming to change the regime here in Rwanda,” Kagame said.

 “But had they attempted it, they would have perished. There is no question about it.”

Kagame’s remarks refer to the joint military deployment by the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force earlier this year. 

The SADC mission—comprised of troops from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania—was formally deployed to eastern DRC in early 2024 to reinforce Kinshasa’s campaign against M23 rebels.

However, Rwandan intelligence, Kagame said, intercepted evidence of advanced weaponry and cross-border planning that he insists was not defensive in nature. 

“If people knew what was found in areas like Goma, Bukavu, and elsewhere, they would understand. This was never just about M23—it was about Rwanda.”

Kagame and wife Jeanette arriving for the cokctail

The most intense clashes occurred around Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, where M23 rebels encircled the city before capturing it with lightning speed.

The strategic battle brought regional and international attention to the deteriorating security situation. 

Despite heavy Congolese and SADC deployments, M23 held its ground—eventually forcing the withdrawal of SADC forces.

Safe passage

The SADC troops were later granted safe passage out of the conflict zone via Rwanda. 

Kagame confirmed Friday that Rwanda not only allowed but facilitated their return. “We gave them security. We made sure they went back home,” he said.

The cocktail was graced by government officials, diplomats among others

The SADC exit marked a major setback for President Félix Tshisekedi’s military efforts in eastern Congo and further strained relations with Kigali. 

Rwanda maintains that Kinshasa collaborates with the FDLR, a militia composed of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Kagame’s warning on Friday was clear: “Those who planned regime change in Kigali should know—it won’t happen. Not today. Not tomorrow.”