The Minister of State for Regional Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, has disclosed that President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) once believed he could invade Rwanda and raise the DRC flag in Kigali.
During 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 impact, and strategies to counter it.
He revealed that Tshisekedi became convinced of his ability to seize control of Rwanda after forming an alliance with the FDLR terrorist group in its fight against the M23 rebels.
According to Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe, Tshisekedi’s hostility toward M23 escalated 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.
“Rather than focusing solely on M23, Tshisekedi directed his aggression toward Rwanda. He openly stated that he would attack M23 fighters and push them into Rwanda, solely based on their language and cultural ties to Rwanda,” Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe explained.
He further revealed that Tshisekedi, in collaboration with FDLR leaders and his military generals, devised a plan to invade Rwanda after defeating M23 in North Kivu. The ultimate objective was to overthrow the Rwandan government, with Tshisekedi envisioning himself raising the DRC flag in Kigali.
“When Tshisekedi launched his military campaign against M23, he depended on FDLR forces. The FDLR assured him they would defeat M23, chase them into Rwanda, and that by the time the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held 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 gathers leaders from English-speaking nations, took place in Kigali from June 20 to 25, 2022. This event followed FDLR and DRC military attacks on Rwanda’s Musanze District in May and June of that year.
Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe attributed Tshisekedi’s miscalculation to his lack of military experience.
“He was a newly elected president, a civilian with no knowledge of warfare. The FDLR convinced him he could win, and he believed them. He truly thought he could defeat Rwanda and intensified his efforts,” he said.
Despite repeated calls from East African Community (EAC) heads of state urging him to stop hostilities against Rwanda, Tshisekedi persisted. Instead, he reinforced his military capabilities in preparation for a 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 stance.
“The Wazalendo militias, particularly the Nyatura faction, were created by the FDLR, which embedded its commanders within their ranks to expand its influence. Essentially, these so-called Congolese ‘patriotic’ forces are an extension of the FDLR,” Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe explained.
On January 27, 2025, after 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 disclosed that this assault was premeditated.
Following M23’s takeover of Goma, Rwanda’s government confirmed intelligence reports indicating that DRC forces, in collaboration with the FDLR, had planned a large-scale offensive against Rwanda. Heavy DRC artillery had been positioned toward Rwanda, preparing for an attack.
However, Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe stressed that Tshisekedi’s invasion plan ultimately failed. He credited Rwanda’s strengthened defense strategies, implemented after previous attacks on Musanze, for effectively countering threats, including the attempted invasion on January 27.