Ramaphosa Under Fire for Sharing Stage and Laughs with Kagame Amid SANDF Soldier Deaths

Ramaphosa Under Fire for Sharing Stage and Laughs with Kagame Amid SANDF Soldier Deaths

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire  May 2025

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing growing public backlash after appearing on a public panel alongside Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the prestigious Africa CEO Forum 2025 just months after 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), allegedly at the hands of Rwandan-backed rebels.

The panel, held in Abidjan, featured key African heads of state in a discussion about economic cooperation, self-reliance, and continental development. However, it was the cordial demeanor and moments of laughter shared between Ramaphosa and Kagame that sparked outrage on South African social media platforms and among families of the fallen soldiers.

"Disrespectful to Our Dead"

Critics argue that Ramaphosa's public friendliness toward Kagame was deeply inappropriate and disrespectful in light of recent events in the eastern DRC, where South African peacekeepers lost their lives during a mission under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) deployment.

Rwanda has been accused by both South African officials and the DRC government of backing the M23 rebel group — the same forces believed responsible for the deadly attack on the SANDF troops.

"The optics are horrendous," said Sipho Mkhize, a military analyst and former SANDF officer. "Our soldiers' blood is still fresh in the soil of the DRC, and here we are, seeing our President laughing with the man many believe enabled it."

Ramaphosa's Remarks: “Ongoing Family Meetings”

Addressing the tension head-on during the panel, Ramaphosa appeared to downplay the perceived hostility between him and Kagame.

"Some may assume that President Kagame and I are in conflict. Perhaps some expected fireworks as we sat next to each other—but the truth is, we’ve had many discussions behind the scenes. These are ongoing family meetings,” Ramaphosa said, drawing chuckles from the audience — and raising eyebrows back home.

Kagame, for his part, avoided direct mention of the DRC conflict but emphasized the importance of African unity, adding that the continent should chart its own course independent of Western influence.

Background: A Strained Relationship

Tensions between Pretoria and Kigali have escalated in 2025, particularly following Ramaphosa’s warning that continued Rwandan military interference in the DRC would be seen as a “declaration of war.” Kagame responded defiantly, accusing Ramaphosa of spreading misinformation and allegedly using the SANDF to protect personal mining interests  claims the South African presidency has strongly denied.

In response to the allegations, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated:

“President Ramaphosa does not have any personal financial interests in the DRC. The SANDF is deployed as part of a multilateral peacekeeping mandate under SADC. Any claims otherwise are false and reckless.”

Mixed Reactions

While some political commentators defended the need for diplomatic engagement, the public mood in South Africa is one of betrayal. On social media, hashtags like #SpittingOnTheirGraves and #NotInOurName trended in the wake of the forum.

The families of the fallen soldiers have also spoken out. A mother of one of the deceased SANDF members told SABC News, “My son died in that jungle. To see the president sharing jokes with Kagame  it broke me.”

No Official Apology or Clarification Issued

As of now, the Presidency has not issued any formal clarification regarding the panel appearance or addressed the backlash. Meanwhile, opposition parties are seizing the moment, with the EFF and DA both calling for Ramaphosa to show “moral leadership” and explain his conduct on the international stage.