Earlier on Thursday, IOL reported that what was chilling about Kagame’s 11pm reaction to Ramaphosa on X, was his last paragraph. Kagame responded: “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.

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

In a lengthy message posted on X, Ramaphosa had mourned the killing of 13 “brave” South African soldiers who were dedicated to their mission and committed to peace.

“The fighting is the result of an escalation by the rebel group M23 and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) militia engaging the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and attacking peacekeepers from the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC),” said Ramaphosa.

“On behalf of the government and the people of our country, I express our sincerest condolences to their families, their loved ones and colleagues. We bow our heads in honour of their heroic and gallant fight for peace. We honour and mourn them.”

Ramaphosa also stated that the process to repatriate the remains of the deceased SA National Defence Force members is under way.

“The attacks on peacekeepers resulted in the deaths of SAMIDRC members from other troop contributing countries, namely, Malawi and Tanzania, as well members of the UN Organization Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) brigade. We honour all the lives that were lost and pass our condolences to their families, governments and citizens,” said Ramaphosa.

But it is the reference to the Rwandan Defence Force as a “militia” which got Kagame’s blood boiling.

Kagame said he had two conversations this week with President Ramaphosa on the situation in Eastern DRC, including earlier on Thursday.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL