The Minister of State for Regional Cooperation, Gen. (Rtd) James Kabarebe, has criticized South Africa’s former intelligence chief, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Maomela Motau, for misrepresenting the facts surrounding the decades-long conflict in eastern DR Congo.
Kabarebe responded on Thursday, January 30, to Motau’s claims accusing Rwanda of being the primary cause of the conflict. He addressed the issue through his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that Motau was “haunted and desperate” due to his past support for Rwandan dissidents residing in South Africa during his tenure.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in eastern DR Congo, where the Congolese rebel group M23 recently seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province near the Rwandan border. Following this development, Congolese government forces and their allies — including the South African National Defence Forces (SANDF) and the FDLR militia linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi — reportedly shelled the Rwandan border city of Rubavu, resulting in at least 13 deaths and numerous injuries.
Kabarebe condemned Motau’s remarks, asserting that such “bankrupt and backward thinking” contributed to the failure of South African forces in DR Congo, where they fought alongside the FDLR and European mercenaries, targeting Congolese Tutsi communities striving for survival.
This is not Kabarebe’s first critique of narratives surrounding the DR Congo crisis. In November 2024, he shed light on the origins of tensions between Rwanda and DR Congo, accusing the Congolese government of maintaining a hostile stance that had fueled conflict for decades.
He also dismissed allegations that M23 fighters, led by Gen. Sultani Makenga, launched attacks on DR Congo from Rwanda. The rebel group, which re-emerged in November 2021 after nearly a decade of dormancy, has since captured Goma and announced intentions to advance toward Kinshasa, DR Congo’s capital.
“Avoid manipulation”
Similar sentiments were echoed by President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, January 29, where he urged his counterparts from the East African Community (EAC) to pull in the same direction and avoid being manipulated in attempts to find a solution to the security challenges in the conflict-battered area.
While addressing a virtual EAC crisis summit convened by Kenyan President William Ruto, in his capacity as the chair of the bloc, Kagame pointed out that regional leaders have been articulate when it came to stating the problems in DR Congo, despite actions towards resolving problems often being in sharp contrast.
DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi boycotted the meeting, with his country not represented altogether.
