Speaking during a panel at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ramaphosa responded to perceptions of a strained relationship, saying, 'People may think that President Kagame and I are in conflict. Some of you may have expected fireworks as we sit close to each other.'
The South African Head of State's remarks were part of a broader reflection on regional peace efforts in the DRC and the role of African-led initiatives.
Ramaphosa praised the continental mediation frameworks, including the Nairobi and Luanda processes, as essential to building confidence and laying the groundwork for ceasefires and troop withdrawals, including the recent pullout of SADC forces from eastern DRC.
'All these efforts have been building a very strong and firm foundation,' he said, adding that while international involvement is welcome, 'we must also remember the principle that we have adopted as Africa: African solutions for African problems.'
President Kagame, who also took part in the session, acknowledged the multiplicity of peace efforts, including those led by Qatar and the United States, but cautioned that none had yet succeeded fully.
He called for greater coherence in African efforts and less dependence on external actors. 'Much progress has been made. But there are things we still haven't done,' Kagame said.
The remarks came months after the two leaders sharply differed on conflicting statements over the conflict in the eastern DRC.
Back in January, President Kagame accused South African officials, including President Ramaphosa, of distorting private conversations and misrepresenting Rwanda's position on the conflict in eastern Congo, particularly regarding alleged warnings to Rwanda and the involvement of Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) soldiers in the war between M23 rebels and Congolese forces.
'What has been said... contains a lot of distortion, deliberate attacks, and even lies,' Kagame posted on his X account in response to a message shared by Ramaphosa.
South Africa had deployed troops to the DRC under the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), supporting Kinshasa's military alongside various militias, including the FDLRâ€"a group formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Kagame took issue with remarks made by South African Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, who claimed that Ramaphosa had warned Rwandan forces that continued hostilities against South African troops would be viewed as a declaration of war, following the deaths of 14 soldiers in clashes near Goma.
SAMIDRC's mission was terminated in March to allow for the resolution of the conflict through diplomatic means, and Rwanda has since granted safe passage to troops withdrawing from eastern DRC.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
