Countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany recently announced sanctions against Rwanda, which include halting development cooperation.
These nations accuse Rwanda of having troops in eastern DRC and supporting the M23 armed group.
However, the Rwandan government has strongly rejected these accusations, asserting that Rwandan forces are not on DRC's territory and are not aiding the M23.
The government further clarified that, instead, the DRC government is cooperating with the FDLR, a terrorist group aimed at destabilizing Rwanda.
Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe emphasized that these countries should be supporting the processes initiated by African leaders to restore peace in eastern DRC, adding that sanctions would not provide a solution.
Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe made the disclosure during a consultation meeting with members of Parliament on March 5, 2025, where he emphasized that the sanctions imposed on Rwanda are driven by the countries' own interests, particularly their desire for minerals from the DRC.
'All of them are after their own interests in Congo, nothing else. What they see in Congo is minerals,' he said.
Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe pointed to Canada as an example, noting that the country recently halted new trade cooperation with Rwanda.
He highlighted that Canada controls a major mine in the Walikale territory in North Kivu, home to the world's largest deposit of Cassiterite.
'For Canadians, it's nothing else. In Walikale, they have the Cassiterite mine, the largest in the world, known as Alpha Mines. There is nothing surprising when they impose sanctions on Rwanda.'
IGIHE
