As tensions escalate between South Africa and Rwanda over the South African National Defence Force's presence in the eastern DRC, the ANC says it is happy that the communication lines between the two countries have been open.
Nomvula Mokonyane, the party’s deputy secretary-general and head of the subcommittee on international relations, on Wednesday backed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s deployment of the country’s military in Goma, saying South Africa was part of multinational communities and could not refuse when asked to assist.
She said the deaths of 13 South African soldiers in the crossfire was unfortunate and that the ANC joined millions of South Africans and patriotic Africans in expressing their heartfelt condolences for “the loss of life of South African patriots who were part of the peacekeeping mission in the eastern DRC”.
Mokonyane further said the presence of the country’s military in DRC was justified as South Africa is always the hardest hit when there is instability on the continent.
That the two countries, albeit with heightened tensions, were talking meant the situation has effectively toned down.
“We are informed that the situation has actually been calm.”
Her remarks come after Rwandan president Paul Kagame last night called Ramaphosa a liar and disputed defence minister Angie Motshekga’s remarks that Ramaphosa told his Rwandan counterpart that any firing on his country’s military would be seen as a declaration of war.
Kagame also took offence to Ramaphosa labelling Rwanda’s defence force a militia group.
Ramaphosa and Kagame have held two telephone conversations since the M23 grouping launched a full-scale attack in Goma that led to the deaths of 13 South African soldiers.
Ramaphosa’s government has since come under immense criticism questioning South Africa's continued presence in the mineral-rich country.
However, Mokonyane defended the decision for South Africa’s presence in the DRC.
“We belong to the multinational platforms that exist both within Sadc, in the AU, the Troika and all the organs of the AU. Therefore when a need arises we contribute because among others our foreign policy is premised on pan-Africanism and solidarity,” said Mokonyane.
You see the M23, you can’t avoid the phenomenon of the M23 as the government of the Congo unless you say we the Congolese government will protect the Banyamulenge because these are Congolese.
“Therefore in the midst of these developments we can’t also be accused of being there when in actual fact our intervention may help to stabilise our own country, which is always the hardest hit when it comes to the effects of instability in any part of the continent.”
She said the ANC would have a clear position by the weekend after receiving a proper briefing from their deployees in government who have been locked in a cabinet lekgotla since Wednesday.
Kagame’s spokesperson Yolande Makolo told Radio 702 this morning that Kagame’s remarks in which he called Ramaphosa a liar was merely an attempt to rectify the untruths that were being peddled as outcomes of the conversation the two presidents held.
She said there was no threat of declaration of war issued by Ramaphosa to Kagame.
“No, he didn’t. And this is why President Kagame had to put out this clarification to set the record straight because the two presidents have had two phone calls in the past week in the last few days and discussed the situation in the eastern DRC, but there was nothing like a warning ever given, other issues were discussed,” said Makolo.
“The response is in reaction to the dishonesty in that tweet by President Ramaphosa, it was not necessary, he could’ve accurately reflected what was discussed. And in a situation like this when we are trying to establish the facts and the truth so that we can work towards a solution, we have to be clear about what is being said and avoid being dishonest.”
She said that “nobody” wanted to get into a full-scale war and that the current situation unfolding was “unnecessary to start with”.
“And it’s unfortunate that it has got to this point. So flurrying the waters with incorrect information is really uncalled for.”
The Thabo Mbeki Foundation shared a clip of the former president addressing the situation in Goma, saying it was avoidable only if the DRC government and its president Felix Tshisekedi was to recognise the Banyamulenge people and properly govern the eastern parts of the country.
This lack of governance and recognition is what has led to the continued presence of the M23 rebel group in those parts.
Mbeki has previously said that the problem with the DRC government was its administrative footprint from Kinshasa did not reach the eastern parts of the country.
“So you find part of the country which has got a very light experience of being governed by the government in Kinshasa. The country is very big. So you have a weak government, a weak imprint of the government on the east, it means other forces emerge and take over,” said Mbeki.
“You see the M23, you can’t avoid the phenomenon of the M23 as the government of the Congo unless you say we the Congolese government will protect the Banyamulenge because these are Congolese. If you don’t say that, allowing other people to do as they wish towards the Banyamulenge then M23 will continue to exist. Because they will get arms to defend themselves.”
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