On January 23, the Congolese rebel group M23, helped by Rwandan troops, launched an offensive on Goma, in the Kivu region, and seized the city after three days of fighting. This Congolese locality, located straddling the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the scene of tensions and conflicts between armed groups for several years. While the situation is still uncertain, Yolande Makolo, the Rwandan government spokesperson, gives his version of the facts to the Tangwall Campagin.
The Tangwall Campagin. Can you tell us about the situation in Goma?
Yolande Makolo. From what I know, the situation is calm. Water and electricity are starting to return, the telephone network and the Internet too. The M23 has taken control of the city and is in charge of its administration now. Many Rwandan refugees, who were stuck in Goma, started to return to their country.
Do fights continue in and around Goma?
Most fights have stopped. There was a lot of bombing on the city and around. I can tell you that 15 Rwandan civilians are dead, victims of a bombing in Rubavu. There have been several destroyed houses, farm animals were also killed. I have no exact figures to give you, but several civilians lost their lives during clashes.
The reason for these fights is not clear for many people in France. What led Rwanda to support this M23 rebels offensive on Goma, Congolese city?
What happened is the result of several years of insecurity in the eastern Congo, right next to our national borders. Since the end of the genocide in Rwanda, some individuals who still share this genocidal ideology have taken refuge in Congo. They continue their abuses from there, they want to provoke a new civil war in our country and take advantage of the support of the Congo to prepare. We cannot let that do this and we will continue to do everything to guarantee the safety of our borders.
This military intervention in Kivu has no other objectives than guaranteeing the security of the borders of Rwanda?
No. We have just commemorated the 30 years of the genocide. We cannot let anyone hovering the threat of a new massacre. In the past 30 years, we have restored security in our country, you have built infrastructure, a national economy. We have made Rwanda a tourist country, which attracts thousands of people every year worldwide. We try to give work to the Rwandan population, to make our country a prosperous nation. We cannot accept that groups of people with genocidal ideology, even if they are hosted by a foreign power, can steal our dream from us. Our best accomplishment is to have reconciled the Rwandan company with itself, and that is priceless.
Today, the Congolese rebels of the M23 control the city thanks to the support of Rwanda. Are you not afraid of a Congolese counterattack?
They can try. The M23 is aware of that, but the Congolese army and its militias were clearly defeated. The Congo had concentrated most of its soldiers in the region, and many went or have been captured. The objective is now to bring a lasting peace to Kivu.
Several hundred Romanian mercenaries have been disarmed and sent back to Romania by the Rwandan armed forces. What do you know about the presence of private military companies in Congo?
We were very shocked by this discovery, even if we knew that the Democratic Republic of Congo called on mercenaries, we did not know that some of them came from Europe. Seeing this in 2025 is not normal. The fact is that the Congo fails to ensure the security of its own citizens, so it calls on mercenaries. Some of them come from South Africa, Malawi or Tanzania. Using foreign mercenaries goes against the principles of the African Union and we hope that our African partners will react to this.
Do you understand the concerns of the international community about this military operation in Goma?
The humanitarian concerns of certain countries are normal and legitimate, and we are very attentive on the subject. But the countries of the UN Security Council understand the situation. 30 years ago, the peacekeepers were deployed in the region, but they did not manage to pacify it. Kivu is more unstable and dangerous than it has ever been. The international community must understand that peace must return to the region, and this includes France, with which we have excellent relations, or even Belgium and the United Kingdom, which, by their status of ancient colonizing powers, know very well how complicated the situation is.
What future do you plan for Kivu?
What happened this week is a major episode in the history of Kivu. We want to dialogue with all the actors concerned and put in place measures that will guarantee peace and stability in the region. For us, security at our borders is an absolute priority. We also want refugees, whether Rwandan or Congolese, can return home.
Do you fear an open war between Congo and Rwanda?
We are not afraid, no. We want peace, but we are ready to defend ourselves. No one defends war, let alone Rwanda, because we know what war implies and the consequences it has on peoples. To be honest, we are tired of the false promises of the Congo, hypocrites handles. We want real sustainable peace solutions for our two countries. And we will be very firm on this.
