Rwanda Rejects U.S. Calls To Withdraw Missile System From DRC; Vows To Degrade Congo’s Offensive Air Assets 

Rwanda has rebuffed calls by the United States, US, to withdraw Rwandan forces and Surface-to-Air Missiles, SAM, from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, saying it is taking measures to protect Rwanda from military strikes by Congolese forces.

“The Congolese political and military leadership, including President Félix Tshisekedi, has also repeatedly declared their intention to invade Rwanda and change its government by force,” said Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement released on Monday morning.

Rwanda said it “takes the threats at their word, and has adjusted our posture accordingly, adding, “This includes measures to ensure complete air defence of Rwandan territory, and to degrade offensive air capabilities, following the introduction of advanced Chinese CH-4 attack drones by DRC in 2023, and repeated violations of Rwandan air space by Congolese fighter jets.”

The United States, US, on Saturday night condemned Rwanda’s support for the M23 armed group and called on the East African country to “immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defense Force personnel from the DRC and remove its surface-to-air missile systems, which threaten the lives of civilians, UN and other regional peacekeepers, humanitarian actors, and commercial flights in eastern DRC.”

The development comes at a time when Congolese forces, with support from allied troops from Tanzanian, Malawi and South Africa are battling M23 rebels in the outskirts of Sake, about 27 kms from Goma.

The United Nations last week reported that on February 7, a UN observation drone was targeted by Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) fired from coordinates 0.0607S 29.2548E approximately 15 miles North west of Rutshuru which is controlled by M23 rebels.

Rwanda’s strongly-worded statement underscores the deteriorating relations between Rwanda and DRC, raising the prospect of an all-out armed conflict.

During the regional leaders’ mini-summit in Addis Ababa this past weekend, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi ruled out holding talks with M23 rebels, underlining his commitment to defeat the rebels on the battlefield.

South Africa, which last week lost 2 soldiers in a mortar attack by suspected M23 rebels,is sending 2,900 soldiers, warplanes and artillery units to counter the insurgents.