The Observer (Kampala)
Sulah Nuwamanya
24 January 2008
Kigali — The United States Government is giving $7 million in military aid to Rwanda, an embassy official in Kigali has disclosed. The assistance will be channeled through America's Africa Contingency Operational Training Assistance (ACOTA) programme.
Brian George, the US Embassy Public Affairs Officer, says the US provides military training and equipment for the Rwandan mission in Sudan's troubled region of Darfur. Under ACOTA, a military co-operation programme with the continent, the US trains African military personnel in various fields.
For Rwanda, it has mainly been in the area of peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance conducted at the Gako military training centre. The centre trains soldiers bound for the Rwandan mission in Darfur under the supervision of US military experts.
"The co-operation between us in the area of defence has made many strides," said George. "We disbursed about $7m last year in support of Rwandan army and we want to see how we can make more interventions."
George added that there is a military exchange programme through the US Embassy military attaché in Kigali, which has enabled several Rwandan officers to get training in the US.
"We are enjoying better relations with the US in the area of defence. There is a lot they have done in terms of improving the skills of our army as well as equipping of military training centres in the country," said Maj. Gen. Patrick Nyanvumba, Rwanda's army officer in charge of engineering and logistics. Besides, in the past six years, the US European Command's Humanitarian Assistance Program has supported construction of seven primary schools in Rwanda.
According to US Ambassador, Michael Arrietti, the programme is designed to assist in the development of capacity building activities that address the basic humanitarian needs of civilian populations.
"US is happy to work with the Rwandan government to develop its human resource capacity. We are want a day when every Rwandan will be able to attend school with all necessary facilities like computers and books," Arrietti said early this month, while opening a $205,000 primary school funded by the Americans.
The Shyara Primary school in Bugesera District, Eastern Province, is expected to accommodate more than 300 pupils. Present at the function was the US Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, Rear Admiral James M Hart, Gen. Nyavumba and Thercise Musabyeyezu, Rwanda's Secretary General in the Ministry of Education.
Rear Admiral Hart was also in the country to represent his government in what the US Embassy described as high profile security talks.
"It is true Rear Admiral Hart is to hold discussions with his counterparts in Rwanda in relation to the progress made in the military co-operation between the two partners," George said.
America's increased interest in the tiny East African country is seen as strategic, especially in its war against terrorism. It is also perceived by critics as the US trying to exorcise the guilt of doing nothing to stop the 1994 genocide in which close to one million Rwandese died. The increased interest in Rwanda also comes at a time the US is planning to establish its African Defense Command in Africa (AFRICOM).
According to statistics from the US Embassy in Kigali, in 2007 alone America provided approximately $167 million in official assistance to Rwanda with the largest chunk of it going into HIV/AIDS and malaria programmes.
In a related development, the new US Embassy building in Kigali whose construction is estimated to have cost about $80 million, is set to open early next month.
George confirmed that "the constructors are making their final works and ready to handover the building" which is located in the business district of Kacyiru. Its prominent location on top of one of the many hills in the city will make it one of the most impressive buildings in Kigali.
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The cooperation between the United States and Rwanda is win win based.
Your allegations about the sad period of 94 are below the belt blows
Rwanda has a clean record with all her donors.
That can not be said for your country