Part 2/8:
The backdrop of Malema's criticism is rooted in an alarming escalation of violence that has resulted in the deaths of South African soldiers. South Africa had previously deployed troops to assist the Congolese army as part of a peacekeeping mission. However, all changed dramatically when M23 began successfully targeting and killing South African personnel—exposing a brutal truth about the complexities of warfare and foreign intervention in the DRC.
Malema made it clear that the violence against South African troops was unsustainable and would likely have never occurred if not for Rwanda’s backing of the M23 rebels. He proclaimed that Kagame had betrayed the ideals of African solidarity, aligning himself instead with Western interests for profit at the expense of Congolese lives.