Rwandan President Paul Kagame has accused CNN of selectively editing an interview about the ongoing conflict with the Democratic Republic of Congo, arguing that crucial context was deliberately removed to create a misleading narrative.
Presidential spokesperson Stephanie Nyombayire claimed the network omitted significant statements from Kagame’s interview with CNN Africa correspondent Larry Madowo, particularly regarding Rwanda’s position on regional security.
The controversy centers on allegations of Rwanda’s support for the M23 rebel group and the ongoing tensions in eastern DR Congo. Kagame reportedly emphasized the threat posed by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia group with connections to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
“FDLR are associated and supported by governments in the region,” Kagame was quoted as saying. “Their aim is not only to fight M23, who are Congolese, but to fight Rwanda and overthrow the government.”
In the CNN-aired version, Kagame appeared to give evasive responses about Rwandan military presence. When asked directly about troops in DR Congo, he stated, “I don’t know. There are many things I don’t know.”
Nyombayire argued that the network deliberately removed Kagame’s critiques of international inaction. The president reportedly challenged the international community’s approach, stating, “The same international community blaming Rwanda is the one that has left FDLR in Congo for 30 years.”
The network’s interview also drew a comparison between Kagame and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a parallel Kagame dismissed.
CNN has not yet publicly responded to the Rwandan presidency’s accusations of interview manipulation.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions in the region, with Kagame maintaining that Rwanda’s primary concern is self-protection. “The most important thing for Rwanda is that we have to protect ourselves,” he said, referencing the country’s traumatic experiences during the 1994 genocide.
