As Rwanda continues its shadow war in eastern Congo, the cost is no longer just Congolese lives; it’s now turning into grief inside Rwanda itself. According to a report by DW Afrique, Kigali is hiding a rising death toll among its own soldiers deployed covertly in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Between March and October 2025, Rwanda’s Ministry of Defense issued several unusual recruitment calls, a move many saw as indirect confirmation of UN estimates that Kigali had deployed between 4,000 and 7,000 troops alongside M23 rebels in eastern DRC. But the real shock lies not only in the scale of this involvement, but in how the Rwandan state is managing the aftermath at home.
400 New Graves in Silence
Based on satellite image analysis, a Human Rights Watch report confirmed over 400 new graves at Kanombe military cemetery in Kigali between December 2024 and July 2025. Rwanda denies the report. But the silence is breaking through families who can no longer carry the burden.
“My brother and I were shown the body of our little brother. His face was covered all over, as if they wanted to hide bullet impacts. At the cemetery, there were only two of us… Afterwards, we were told to keep it secret. Unfortunately, my brother couldn't cope; he was traumatized and is currently in a psychiatric center.” — A relative of a fallen soldier told DW Afrique.
The grief is spreading, but under pressure, not expression. Several families report that they only learned of deaths through third parties or when comrades returned home on leave. Others say they were offered hush money, about 2 million Rwandan francs (€1,160), in exchange for their silence.
“I think the Rwandan state should allow families to mourn their loved ones with dignity… we are forced to remain silent about something as deeply emotional as the loss of a loved one. This can even cause trauma,” — another grieving family member shared.
Rwanda’s Denial Unravels
When questioned by DW, Rwandan army spokesman Gen. Ronald Rwivanga dodged responsibility, stating:
“This is a political question that you should ask the officials of the DRC. It is up to them to answer, not a foreign military spokesman.”
WAR IN DR CONGO
Rwanda’s Soldiers Die in Congo, Families Ordered to Stay Silent
Feb 10, 2026
May 15, 2026
3 min read
Published
Updated:
As Rwanda continues its shadow war in eastern Congo, the cost is no longer just Congolese lives; it’s now turning into grief inside Rwanda itself. According to a report by DW Afrique, Kigali is hiding a rising death toll among its own soldiers deployed covertly in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Between March and October 2025, Rwanda’s Ministry of Defense issued several unusual recruitment calls, a move many saw as indirect confirmation of UN estimates that Kigali had deployed between 4,000 and 7,000 troops alongside M23 rebels in eastern DRC. But the real shock lies not only in the scale of this involvement, but in how the Rwandan state is managing the aftermath at home.
400 New Graves in Silence
Based on satellite image analysis, a Human Rights Watch report confirmed over 400 new graves at Kanombe military cemetery in Kigali between December 2024 and July 2025. Rwanda denies the report. But the silence is breaking through families who can no longer carry the burden.
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“My brother and I were shown the body of our little brother. His face was covered all over, as if they wanted to hide bullet impacts. At the cemetery, there were only two of us… Afterwards, we were told to keep it secret. Unfortunately, my brother couldn't cope; he was traumatized and is currently in a psychiatric center.” — A relative of a fallen soldier told DW Afrique.
The grief is spreading, but under pressure, not expression. Several families report that they only learned of deaths through third parties or when comrades returned home on leave. Others say they were offered hush money, about 2 million Rwandan francs (€1,160), in exchange for their silence.
“I think the Rwandan state should allow families to mourn their loved ones with dignity… we are forced to remain silent about something as deeply emotional as the loss of a loved one. This can even cause trauma,” — another grieving family member shared.
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Rwanda’s Denial Unravels
When questioned by DW, Rwandan army spokesman Gen. Ronald Rwivanga dodged responsibility, stating:
“This is a political question that you should ask the officials of the DRC. It is up to them to answer, not a foreign military spokesman.”
But Kigali’s wall of denial is beginning to show cracks. Rwanda’s ambassador to Washington, Mathilde Mukantabana, recently admitted to the U.S. Congress that her government is engaged in “security coordination” with M23 and AFC rebels, an indirect acknowledgment of military involvement in the DRC’s conflict.
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The Real Tragedy
This isn’t just about secret graves. It’s about a government deploying its sons to die in a foreign war it won’t even admit it’s fighting, and then silencing their families. For Kigali, the war in Congo is fought not only with weapons but with propaganda, denial, and fear. For Rwandan families, it’s fought in psychiatric clinics, whispered grief, and unmarked caskets.
Source: DW Afrique – “The war in the DRC is also causing grief to Rwandans.”
Full article on dw.com
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