Photo: Damien Glez The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, has given explanations on the meeting with the UN group of experts who wrote a controversial report alleging involvement of Rwanda with Congolese rebels.
"Last week, we shared our views and concerns regarding their accusations on Rwanda with the authors of the report and the addendum," declared Mushikiwabo. She further said that Rwanda explained itself on each accusation in the report.
"After that we made up our own report on the issue, and sent it to all those who have asked for our views, especially those suspending their aid based on false allegations."
She added that the report was also sent to the UN Security Council. "We do not hope that they will retract what they have published, but the important thing is that we have been given time to express our concerns because one should look at both sides' explanations before taking his decision."
One by one, the minister highlighted the controversies and rebutted the accusations in the report that accuses Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) to have trained M23, a mutiny fighting in the eastern DRC.
The accusations say that MINADEF trained M23 soldiers in Kanombe military camp for 2 weeks. "It's illogical to claim that M23 recruits were trained from Kanombe barracks in the middle of homes, a hospital and cemetery. One cannot do such a delicate job in a public place."
She also explained that some of the weapons which the UN group of experts found with the M23 rebels and were allegedly supplied by Rwanda, are no longer used by the Rwandan army. "Since 2008, Rwanda has destroyed such arms as they were useless. Surprisingly, one of the experts in the group was there when the arms were burned."
In addition, Mushikiwabo said that the mention of Rwandan military uniforms among the rebels makes no sense. "You can get that tissue from a shop. The uniform is not even that of our military forces."
She then emphasized that the report includes many rumors. "It shows that those who have written it had the intention of making it look like Rwanda is supporting the DR Congo mutiny in a 'convincing' way. There are so many forged allegations in it."
For instance, the Minister cited the case of an RDF officer who has been teaching at Gako military academy for one year and never missed any of his class, but he is accused of being in command of the mutineers in eastern Congo. "The report says that he lives in the North, which is not true -- you cannot be at Gako and in the North at the same time," she said.
"We have answered with facts to all of the accusations. Even those explicitly mentioned had time to present their evidence that they were in Rwanda doing their normal jobs," Mushikiwabo said.
Mushikiwabo went on explaining that the country has no interest to cause instability to its neighbor, Congo.
"The eastern Congo unrest doesn't interest Rwanda, we have no reason of backing any mutiny in the region," she declared, stressing that it was the basis over Rwanda's concerns on the report. The minister took her time to give background over the role Rwanda has been playing in sake of peace and stability in DRC.
"Since 2009 Rwanda has done all in its possibilities to solve the problem. President Kagame and his Congolese counterpart shared their understanding on the concern, but still the thing prevails," she noted. "Any country does anything without any reason; there is no reason for Rwanda to back the reported mutineers."
Moreover, Mushikiwabo said that Rwanda is tired of false (inaccurate) reports. "We've provided our counter-allegations facts, and we await the final report which is scheduled to be released in November this year." She added that there are certainly people behind these reports, who want to look at Rwanda in certain. "They are determined to tarnish Rwanda's image. As a fact, Rwanda enjoys support of friends than enemies."
Concerning countries cutting aid basing to the aforementioned report, Mushikiwabo said that Rwanda was not counting absolutely on external aid. "We do need aid but if it stops, we have to figure out a way of living without it. So if the aid-cut sticks, we'll do so and I am confident that, given our experience, we can do that."
On Congo's officials themselves accusing Rwanda, Minister Mushikiwabo said that Rwanda has become accustomed to behaviors of some Congo officials, fleeing their responsibility and putting the blame on Rwanda.
"We put that on the account of frustration of officials of a country that has been dealing with crisis situations and wants to put the blame on others. That's usually a good way of staying away from your responsibilities."
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The minister is right to say that there are two sides to each story. What is also true is the fact that of all the DRC's neighboring countries, Rwanda is the only one repeatedly accused of meddling into that country's internal affairs. Why is that? Are you, Ms. Minister, suggesting that everyone else is against Rwanda? The fact is that the CNDP enjoyed tremendous support from your country. Nkundabatware is "in house arrest" in Rwanda. If he is a Congolese subject, why don't you send him back to his country to face justice there? Your country's aggressive behavior towards Congo needs to stop. After all that country has been nothing but hospitable and welcoming to your people for years. Is that how you repay hospitality? Sure the DRC is a failed state. But leave it alone so it can figure out how to solve its problems without your country interfering into its business.
Nice cartoon, but the flag on the President Kagame's necktie is wrong.
A secure Congo is good not only for Congolese but for Rwanda as well. As such, there is no reason Rwanda would be interested in Congo's instability. Maligners of Rwanda have of course kept a blind eye to this fact and must always find away to tie Rwanda to the endless mess in Congo. They will continue to say that Rwanda is interested in the natural resources of the Congo when in fact Rwanda's trade interests with Congo are better served if Congo is stable and Rwanda knows this. Citzenship of Kinyarwanda speaking Congolese continues to be a critical issue that underlies the instabilty and the world needs to wake-up against the continued hate plofilation against this section of congolese. Unfortunately, the government has not demonstrated proper leadership on the matter. I look forward not only to a time when Congo will fix its problems including harnessing her resources and being able to mantain a regular army that is remunerated and motivated, but when congolese can take responsibility for their mess and stop blaming it on others. As for Rwanda, I think there are people who have taken a vocation in trying to malign her -of course I do not mean congolese. There are people out their who cannot come to terms with her successeses and boldness.
Indeed, out of the 9 neighbours of the DRC, only one has always been fingered. Can the minister give us the amount of Congolese minerals going through RWANDA as well; RWANDA being well organised, there will certainly be statistics about this illicite trade. Then Kagame, don't bite the hand that made you, remember that it took you 30 years to come back to RWANDA, without that hand, you should still be in UGANDA. History will repeat itself, MOBUTU, SAVIMBI were darlings of the West, look at what happened to them. Beware !!!
why Rwanda is the only country accused? if Mr GONDWANA AND SERGE you know well the region first of all you all know that there are congolese who speaks kinyarwanda in the region and also rwandan genociders who congo welcomed that i can call the worse decision congolese leaders have made in the history of these region and secondly rwanda always allege the UN MISSION of being unable to bring back these fellows so that they can face justice in their motherland and leave congo free from danger who are unfortunately not the only danger in the congo thirdly Everyone knows the history of the UN MISSIONS in RWandan in 1994. SO YOU CANNOT ASK MUCH WHY IS RWANDA ACCUSED EVERYTIME. Dear brothers i am very choked congolese citizens are fleeing from their homes and all the mess but if rwanda has tried resolving congos problems which affects rwandan at the end, by arresting nkunda it does not mean rwanda is implicated and i dont know if you knew that kagame gave nkunda to UN to give him to the CONGO but they refuse TO be responsible of any problem that could happen to nkunda. what people does not want to undearstand is that nkunda was a congolese like others who was fighting for his right there forefathers where born in DRC and how can you call him rwandan. and you said you gave us hospitality that is true but we cannot forget that in 1995,1996 how many tutsis where killed, burned. threw in the rivers of the congo. that i blame this human rights organisation and the western media are not reporting. please we are all suffering from the problem in the congo. if DRC leaders are not taking they part of responsibilty and continue incorporate hate of rwandese in the heart of congolese these will not lead us anywhere. if they choose to work with some people to destroy congo the history will ask them what they did to the children of the DRC