We have our own problems we need to solve; we cannot carry another country’s burden-Kagame

President Paul Kagame has said Rwanda cannot continue to be blamed for the insecurity in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rwanda has been under pressure from foreign countries asking it to stop the support it is accused of giving to the March 23 Movement (M23) and to remove its troops from the province of North Kivu.

M23 is a rebel military group based in eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda had denied accusations of supporting it.

The problem of this group in particular has made Rwanda relations with Congo being negative and both Nairobi and Luanda peace initiatives aimed at resolving the conflicts have been fruitless so far.

In an interview with Radio10 and Royal FM on Monday, April 1, Kagame said the problem in eastern Congo originates from Congo and its leadership.

“Sometimes, people put Congo’s burden on Rwanda’s shoulders. DR Congo’s burden should be carried by the Congolese people and their leaders and not by Rwandans or Rwandan leaders,” he said.

President Kagame added that Rwandans have their own problems they need to solve, so, no one shouldn’t make them carry others’.

“We have our own problems which we need to solve; we cannot carry another country’s burden,” he noted.

He insisted he doesn’t have a problem with anyone getting anything from Congo, but if someone wants to take resources from that country, there is no need to make him carry Congo’s problem.