President Paul Kagame has called the bluff of western countries for threatening sanctions against Rwanda over its involvement in the DR Congo crisis, telling them to “go hell.”

At an event marking the 31st commemoration of Rwanda 1994 genocide on Tuesday, Mr Kagame said “If anyone comes around, and thinks they can, you know, they come and say ‘hey we’re going to sanction you’. What? Go to hell. You have your own issues to deal with, go and deal with your own issues, leave me to mine.”

Mr Kagame insisted that Rwanda as a sovereign state would not be intimated.

“We have to live our lives, we have to live the way we want,” Mr Kagame said. “Rwandans, don’t owe your life to anybody else… Don’t allow anybody to dictate to you how you should live your life, because the moment you accept it, that is the day.”

Dismissing fears of being assassinated by powerful forces, Mr Kagame said “I have had people come to me and say, ‘President, you are too vocal. You challenge people with power, and they want to kill you.””

“Well, first of all, that means they are killers. But if I were to just accept these things, I wouldn’t be living. I would already be dead. So why don’t I die fighting? So, you Rwandans, why don’t you die fighting? Instead of dying anyway — just dying like flies. Why?”

Mr Kagame’s outburst trailed sanction threats, including aid withdrawal by western countries over Rwanda’s involvement in the crisis in Dr Congo.

The United Nations estimated about 4000 Rwanda soldiers are backing M23 rebels, capturing territories in DR Congo, a development condemned by western power. Mr Kagame denied involvement in the DR Congo crisis, insisting that he only defended his territory.