Speaking at a consultative meeting with members of Rwanda's Parliament on March 5, 2025, Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe discussed the spread of genocidal ideology in the region, its consequences, and strategies to counter it.
He disclosed that Tshisekedi became convinced of his ability to take over Rwanda when he aligned himself with the FDLR terrorist group in the fight against the M23 rebels.
According to Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe, Tshisekedi's hostility toward M23 intensified after the group was excluded from peace talks in Nairobi in April 2022. He vowed to eliminate them and "send them back to Rwanda" simply because many of their fighters spoke Kinyarwanda.
'Instead of solely targeting M23, Tshisekedi turned his aggression toward Rwanda. He openly declared that he would fire at M23 fighters and drive them into Rwanda just because they spoke Kinyarwanda and shared aspects of Rwandan culture,' Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe explained.
He further revealed that Tshisekedi, along with FDLR leaders and his military generals, devised a plan to invade Rwanda after defeating M23 in North Kivu. The ultimate goal was to overthrow the Rwandan government, and Tshisekedi envisioned himself raising the DRC flag in Kigali.
'When Tshisekedi launched his offensive against M23, he relied on FDLR forces. The FDLR assured him they would crush M23, pursue them into Rwanda, and that by the time the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting [CHOGM] took place in Kigali on June 20, 2022, he would already be in the Rwandan capital, having hoisted the DRC flag. His generals and the FDLR fed him these illusions, and he believed them,' Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe stated.
The CHOGM summit, which brings together leaders from English-speaking nations, was held in Kigali from June 20 to 25, 2022. This event occurred shortly after FDLR and DRC military forces shelled Rwanda's Musanze District in May and June of that year.
Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe attributed Tshisekedi's misguided belief in an easy victory to his lack of military experience.
'He was a new president, a civilian with no understanding of warfare. The FDLR convinced him he would win, and he fell for it. He truly believed he could defeat Rwanda and intensified his efforts,' he said.
Despite calls from East African Community (EAC) heads of state urging him to halt attacks on Rwanda, Tshisekedi refused. Instead, he bolstered his military capabilities, preparing for direct confrontation with Rwanda.
As part of this strategy, he collaborated with various militias under the Wazalendo alliance, a coalition known for its anti-Rwandan and anti-Tutsi ideology.
'The Wazalendo militias, especially the Nyatura faction, were created by the FDLR, which embedded its commanders within their ranks to strengthen their influence. Essentially, these so-called Congolese 'patriotic' forces are an extension of the FDLR,' Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe explained.
On January 27, 2025, when M23 captured the city of Goma, the DRC army, FDLR, and Wazalendo forces launched an attack on Rwanda's Rubavu District, killing 16 civilians. Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe revealed that this assault had been planned in advance.
Following M23's takeover of Goma, Rwanda's government confirmed intelligence reports indicating that DRC forces, in collaboration with the FDLR, had planned a major offensive against Rwanda. Heavy DRC artillery had been positioned facing Rwanda, ready for an attack.
However, Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe emphasized that Tshisekedi's plan to invade Rwanda ultimately failed. He credited Rwanda's robust defense strategies, reinforced after previous attacks on Musanze, for successfully repelling threats, including the attempted invasion on January 27.
IGIHE
