Kagame Says Only Death Can Silence Him Amid Growing Pressure Over DR Congo Conflict

KIGALI, Rwanda, July 17 — Rwandan President Paul Kagame said on Thursday that countries seeking to silence him would only succeed if he were dead, in remarks that underscored growing tensions surrounding the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Speaking during a meeting of the FPR-Inkotanyi Political Bureau, Kagame addressed domestic issues before turning to the security situation in eastern Congo, where Rwanda has repeatedly faced international accusations of backing the AFC/M23 rebel movement.

Rwanda has consistently denied supporting the group, despite reports by United Nations experts and allegations from the Congolese government and several Western governments.

A peace agreement signed in Washington on December 4, 2025, called for Rwanda to withdraw its troops from eastern Congo, where they are alleged to be operating alongside AFC/M23 fighters. Rwanda has not withdrawn its forces, according to the agreement's implementation timeline, and a July 15 deadline also passed without compliance.

In his speech, Kagame rejected accusations against Rwanda, portraying his country as a victim rather than a party responsible for prolonging the conflict. He argued that the Congolese government continues to support the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group that Kigali considers a major security threat.

Kagame also maintained that those who initially entered eastern Congo did not originate from Rwanda. He suggested that, during a regional meeting in Nairobi, another head of state had acknowledged that they came from his own country, an apparent reference to Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

The Rwandan leader further accused the governments of the DRC and Burundi of supplying weapons to the FDLR. He also alleged that United Nations peacekeepers had engaged in illicit trade involving minerals with the armed group.

Kagame criticized UN experts whose reports have concluded that the FDLR no longer poses a significant threat to Rwanda. He said international envoys routinely dismissed Rwanda's explanations and instead insisted that Kigali accept their own conclusions.

The remarks come as Rwanda faces increasing international pressure over its role in eastern Congo. Critics argue that Kigali has repeatedly issued contradictory statements since conflict between Rwanda and the DRC escalated in the mid-1990s, contributing to skepticism about its official position.

Under the Washington agreement, Rwanda committed to withdrawing its forces from Congolese territory. Kagame, however, suggested that expectations that AFC/M23 fighters would leave eastern Congo were misplaced, indicating that such a withdrawal was unlikely.

Addressing sanctions imposed on Rwanda, Kagame said they were intended to weaken his country rather than resolve the conflict. He said Rwanda had sought dialogue with several countries before sanctions were imposed but that those governments preferred punitive measures against both the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and the country itself.

Kagame also expressed disappointment with the United States, saying he had initially believed Washington was genuinely committed to ending the conflict. He claimed that after the signing of a regional economic cooperation agreement involving the DRC, Rwanda, the United States and other regional partners, he was discouraged from raising the issues of the FDLR and M23.

According to Kagame, the international community's objective is to dismantle AFC/M23 while ignoring what Rwanda considers the continued threat posed by the FDLR.

In increasingly forceful remarks, Kagame said foreign governments were attempting to dictate how regional affairs should be handled while simultaneously seeking to silence him through sanctions.

He also referred to discussions concerning violence in Minembwe, saying that when he attempted to raise concerns about killings there, he was told that the matter did not concern him.

Concluding his address, Kagame warned that attempts to silence him could create greater instability in the region.

"The only way Paul Kagame will ever be silenced is if I die. That is the only way to silence me," he said.

Kagame's comments suggest that Rwanda is unlikely to withdraw its forces from eastern Congo in the near future, despite commitments contained in the Washington peace agreement. His remarks, delivered before senior members of the ruling FPR-Inkotanyi, are also likely to reinforce perceptions that Kigali intends to maintain its current position as regional diplomatic tensions continue