Rwanda’s leader issues stark warning over threats to M23 and Rwanda’s survival

In a blunt address to Rwanda’s ruling party leadership on Friday, President Paul Kagame delivered a forceful message on national security, firmly rejecting what he described as coordinated efforts to weaken both the M23 rebel group and Rwanda itself.

Speaking at a meeting of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) Political Bureau, Kagame pushed back against growing international pressure, including sanctions imposed by the United States on Rwandan officials and businesses, which he views as attempts to silence Kigali’s voice on regional security.

« Silencing people will be harder than some imagine. Telling us to be quiet means supporting those who want to come and kill you, as they did before, and we will handle it as we see fit. The only way to silence me is when I am dead. That’s the truth, » Kagame declared, emphasizing his government’s refusal to bow to external pressure.

He went on to challenge the notion that some lives are more valuable than others, stressing that Rwanda, despite its small size and vulnerability, will not accept any threats to its existence. « Diminishing everything and pretending that the lives of some matter more than others is not our policy — nor is it the policy of the RPF. We are a small country. In many ways, insignificant. You can hurt us, but wishing our disappearance is no small matter, » he stated.

Kagame’s remarks come amid escalating tensions in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the M23 rebel group — accused by the UN and Western governments of receiving Rwandan support — has seized control of large parts of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. While Kigali denies backing the rebels, Kagame warned that calls to dismantle the M23 are not just about the armed group but represent an existential threat to Rwanda itself.

« When they say they will make the M23 disappear, they mean Rwanda will disappear. Well, I cannot wish for such a thing. I cannot desire that. But if it happens — if I fail to prevent it — I believe they will find us ready, » he asserted.

His comments follow a series of diplomatic initiatives, including the Washington Agreement and ongoing talks in Doha under Qatari mediation, aimed at resolving the crisis. However, progress has stalled, with Kinshasa and the M23-AFC rebellion failing to bridge key differences. The Montreux process in Switzerland, intended to inject momentum into negotiations, has yet to yield tangible results, while shifting geopolitical priorities — including crises in the Middle East — have further slowed mediation efforts.

Calls from national, regional, and international actors for all parties to honor their commitments have so far gone unheeded. The persistent gap between diplomatic agreements and ground realities continues to undermine peace efforts, with each side interpreting accords through its own lens, making implementation increasingly uncertain.