Great Lakes envoy cautions MONUC reinforcement to 20,000 in DR Congo
BY GEORGE KAGAME
President Paul Kagame's envoy to the Great Lakes Region Ambassador Joseph Mutaboba has expressed caution at the decision to increase the forces of the United Nations' Peace Keeping Mission in DR Congo-MONUC from 17,000 to 20,000 on Thursday by the Security Council at the behest of France.
The Security Council increased the peace keeping force after the most recent outbreak of war between the National Congress for the Defence of the People forces under the command of Congolese dissident soldier General Laurent Nkunda against a combination of the Congolese government forces, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, Interahamwe and Mai Mai who are allegedly fighting on one side.
The decision to reinforce the MONUC forces has been criticized by many observers noting that the peace keeping force even before the increase in their numbers-still the largest operation by the UN-is inefficient and has also conspired with the various negative forces in the region to fight against Nkunda who says he is fighting to defend minority communities in Eastern Congo especially his ethnic Tutsi tribesmen who are threatened by the FDLR and the Interahamwe.
Asked if the increase in MONUC numbers will have an impact on peace and security in Eastern Congo, Mutaboba said: "it might make an impact if and only if they have a clear mandate and specific target." He added that even if the force was increased to '40,000 or 60,000' it means nothing "if the root causes of the conflict in the region is not addressed, the MONUC will have no impact if they continue protecting the Interahamwe." Mutaboba also said that the UN is fully aware of the problem of negative forces hiding in Eastern Congo and the rape and guns for minerals accusations against MONUC forces especially from Pakistan and India. "i hope they learned their lesson", he said.
The UN sent a 17000 strong force to keep peace in DR Congo in 1999 as the country was under going a military conflict in which 13 countries were allegedly involved. Since its creation however, MONUC has been accused of inefficiency for failing to maintain peace especially in the eastern part of DR Congo where 26 rebel groups are reported to be fighting. The biggest threat among these groups experts say are the FDLR who are remnants of the genocidal forces of Rwanda who continue victimizing civilian ethnic Tutsi in Congo. Of the already 17000 strong MONUC force in the Congo, only 6000 are based in Eastern Congo.
Since he started the rebellion in 2004, Nkunda has consistently said he is fighting to defend his minority Tutsi tribesmen whose existence is threatened by bandit groups that fled the country in 1994 after participating in the Genocide which claimed close to one million Rwandans. According security experts at the Nairobi based East Africa Standby Brigade, Rwandan negative forces that entered the jungles of Eastern Congo after the genocide initially numbered over 10,000 but it is believed that they have increased in numbers and logistics since they entered into partnership with the DR Congo government forces. The negative forces continue to destabilize Eastern Congo and have particularly attacked ethnic Tutsi tribesmen in the region.
Nkunda welcomed the increase of the force saying that he hoped they would help to establish stability in the region: "Congolese people must gain from the increased force. Currently Eastern Congo has no economy, no water, no electricity and no government." He added that he had ordered a ceasefire to allow for the if the force would help to introduce stability in the region then it is a good decision to increase their numbers,"
The UN stated that the 3,100 more troops will be dispatched to DR Congo but didnot say when the forces would be sent but residents in Eastern Congo are skeptical of the force: Christian Matandi in Kibumba Eastern Congo said: "what use is the increase of MONUC, they have been here before but they are interested in other parts of the country. What sense does it make to have only 6000 forces in Eastern Congo out of the 17000 when it is only this region that is under serious conflict?" asked Matandi.
Friday 28 November 2008
Rwanda to mark UN diabetes day with week long activities; Diabetes Association
Rwanda to mark UN diabetes day with week long activities; Diabetes Association
BY GEORGE KAGAME
The Rwanda Diabetic Association will celebrate this year’s World Diabetes Day with several activities to increase awareness and the plight of people suffering from it no top of free medical care for all children affected.
Speaking to the press over the weekend Dr Fransco Gishoma, the President of Rwanda Diabetic Association the national organization in Rwanda which is concerned with diabetes related issues in the country said the Rwanda Diabetic Association has organized several events to mark the day which was officially designated by the UN last year on 14 November.
"Rwanda forwarded the day to 21 November and we have a week long observation. With the help of local government authorities we are inviting all children suffering from diabetes to get free treatment. We have partnered with 16 major hospitals across the country to provide therapy. We are also treating diabetic children and 'absolutely' poor people for free on top of reducing the cost by 30 percent for those with 'small' means."
Gishoma said that 2008 theme for Rwanda diabetes day, "No children should be killed from diabetes” marks his association's determination to curb the disease in the country.
The United Nations' marked the first diabetes' day on 14th November 2007 and declared that the day to be an international day to be observed among all member countries to appeal to the disease affecting over 246 million worldwide.
Even if the president of diabetes association in Rwanda did not give immediate statistics as to the extent of diabetes in the country, he said that disease is serious threat to the health of many Rwandans: "our association in partnership with the Ministry of health has started programmes running at public health centre level across the country to ensure that all children are tested for diabetes.
World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes world. It was introduced by International Diabetic Federation and the World Health Organization in response to concern over increasing numbers of people with diabetes around the world.
The date marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1921. With the passage of the United Nations' World Diabetes Day Resolution in December 2006, November 14 has now become a United Nations-observed day.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
The Rwanda Diabetic Association will celebrate this year’s World Diabetes Day with several activities to increase awareness and the plight of people suffering from it no top of free medical care for all children affected.
Speaking to the press over the weekend Dr Fransco Gishoma, the President of Rwanda Diabetic Association the national organization in Rwanda which is concerned with diabetes related issues in the country said the Rwanda Diabetic Association has organized several events to mark the day which was officially designated by the UN last year on 14 November.
"Rwanda forwarded the day to 21 November and we have a week long observation. With the help of local government authorities we are inviting all children suffering from diabetes to get free treatment. We have partnered with 16 major hospitals across the country to provide therapy. We are also treating diabetic children and 'absolutely' poor people for free on top of reducing the cost by 30 percent for those with 'small' means."
Gishoma said that 2008 theme for Rwanda diabetes day, "No children should be killed from diabetes” marks his association's determination to curb the disease in the country.
The United Nations' marked the first diabetes' day on 14th November 2007 and declared that the day to be an international day to be observed among all member countries to appeal to the disease affecting over 246 million worldwide.
Even if the president of diabetes association in Rwanda did not give immediate statistics as to the extent of diabetes in the country, he said that disease is serious threat to the health of many Rwandans: "our association in partnership with the Ministry of health has started programmes running at public health centre level across the country to ensure that all children are tested for diabetes.
World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes world. It was introduced by International Diabetic Federation and the World Health Organization in response to concern over increasing numbers of people with diabetes around the world.
The date marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1921. With the passage of the United Nations' World Diabetes Day Resolution in December 2006, November 14 has now become a United Nations-observed day.
Welcome to the township and its eternally celebrating La Buvette Bar
Welcome to the township and its eternally celebrating La Buvette Bar
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Many a lonely night have been spent here, many more beer bottles broken, small sticks collected across the country to take care of the popular 'Brochete' delicacy here. This is La Buvette Umubano bar.
Talk about strategical location in whatever terms, and you have an idea of this poor man's version of a tavern. It is a tough attempt to describe the geographical location where the bar is found, but if you are familiar with Kigali's 'elaborate' social life, you probably know about Mayak Cinema. One of the foremost feature among the concrete jungle of Nyamirambo township, otherwise known as Biryog. And so far, the only public movie theatre in the city. La Buvette is found next Mayak and even then a client needs good knowledge of the grids of bars to identify the place if you miss seeing the only advert of the bar on top of the entrance in white paint.
The bar opens anywhere after midmorning and remains in service till the last customer leaves, and the clients are not the kind that 'buy me a rose, call me from work", the last customer rule therefore is the one among many that are liberal. This is probably the only place in the city 'real' and random karaoke takes with no aid of technology. Extremely loud conversations spanning the entire bar, even louder music videos playing on the television positioned strategically such that barman is also watching it most of the time instead of listening to his orders, and traditional Kinya-rwanda drama and songs. All the above in no particular order but on many occasions they are simultaneous.
An advertising manager would call this a wonder in terms of market segmentation. In this bar, you can have circles of patrons standing close to each other and dancing in full gear but to different tunes. one from the music video showing on the mandatory television set and the other from live performances among the patrons in the other circle singing to a Kinya-rwanda or Congolese tune. Wild laughter breaks out occasionally but for the most part, the atmosphere inside this bar is either of a heated political debate-lately and mostly about a certain Barack Obama-, cursing about a delayed order-which the barman never heard about because he was watching music video a prostitute that has been cheated by an irate client.
La Buvette serves mainly beer at the normal retail prices, fairly decent Brochete and roasted bananas, irish potatoes which, in the ranges of 500 to 750 Frw is pocket friendly for the eternally joyous patrons here and makes the 'Brocheteman' the busiest and most important staff of the La Buvette, good relations with him are crucial if you intend to have a good time here.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Many a lonely night have been spent here, many more beer bottles broken, small sticks collected across the country to take care of the popular 'Brochete' delicacy here. This is La Buvette Umubano bar.
Talk about strategical location in whatever terms, and you have an idea of this poor man's version of a tavern. It is a tough attempt to describe the geographical location where the bar is found, but if you are familiar with Kigali's 'elaborate' social life, you probably know about Mayak Cinema. One of the foremost feature among the concrete jungle of Nyamirambo township, otherwise known as Biryog. And so far, the only public movie theatre in the city. La Buvette is found next Mayak and even then a client needs good knowledge of the grids of bars to identify the place if you miss seeing the only advert of the bar on top of the entrance in white paint.
The bar opens anywhere after midmorning and remains in service till the last customer leaves, and the clients are not the kind that 'buy me a rose, call me from work", the last customer rule therefore is the one among many that are liberal. This is probably the only place in the city 'real' and random karaoke takes with no aid of technology. Extremely loud conversations spanning the entire bar, even louder music videos playing on the television positioned strategically such that barman is also watching it most of the time instead of listening to his orders, and traditional Kinya-rwanda drama and songs. All the above in no particular order but on many occasions they are simultaneous.
An advertising manager would call this a wonder in terms of market segmentation. In this bar, you can have circles of patrons standing close to each other and dancing in full gear but to different tunes. one from the music video showing on the mandatory television set and the other from live performances among the patrons in the other circle singing to a Kinya-rwanda or Congolese tune. Wild laughter breaks out occasionally but for the most part, the atmosphere inside this bar is either of a heated political debate-lately and mostly about a certain Barack Obama-, cursing about a delayed order-which the barman never heard about because he was watching music video a prostitute that has been cheated by an irate client.
La Buvette serves mainly beer at the normal retail prices, fairly decent Brochete and roasted bananas, irish potatoes which, in the ranges of 500 to 750 Frw is pocket friendly for the eternally joyous patrons here and makes the 'Brocheteman' the busiest and most important staff of the La Buvette, good relations with him are crucial if you intend to have a good time here.
Is Rutshuru and Eastern Congo persecuted for its agriculture or minerals?
Is Rutshuru and Eastern Congo persecuted for its agriculture or minerals?
BY GEORGE KAGAME&
GEORGE BARYAMWISAKI
Rutshuru, Eastern Congo
At first observation everything looked like it was staged, 'President" Laurent Nkunda was going to meet retired Nigerian leader General Olusegun Obasanjo now serving As special envoy of the UN Secretary General on the congolese crisis. The crisis like a volcano arose from relative slumber in recent times to a full fledged war pitying the National Congress for the Defense of the People, CNDP under the command of General Laurent Nkunda against the government troops of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and what many neutral observes agree are remnants of the genocidal forces in Rwanda in 1994.
The burst up of Eastern Congo followed a rarely peaceful period in recent times after the CNDP and government agreed to "work together", in January this year, Nkunda's people and those of the DRC government negotiated a deal for peace. However towards the weeks ending september, Goma itself was saved from CNDP's capture with the rebels declaring a ceasefire, Obasanjo is here to try to find peaceful means of stopping the war first, then guaranteeing the security of minority tribes in the area against a myriad other rebel groups fighting in this part of Congo, whose government outreach remains very poor, saves for a few roads to transport agricultural produce from the deeper farming communities to markets as far as Gisenyi, Kigali, Goma and Bukavu.
The recent war has seen Nkunda's CNDP capture a number of strategic areas and towns from government control, as a result, international humanitarian organizations have been quick to release reports declaring their analysis of their of the situation, even the UN has increased its peace keeping force to 20,000 the largest mission in the world. The two generals are meeting in a catholic church mission, which after the traditional sunday worship early in the morning, has quickly become an altar of peace, Nkunda calls it "a blessing, a chance for peace." Obasanjo is se to mediate negotiations between CNDP-which is the only group in the region interested in negotiations at all-with the DR Congo government sitting in Kinshasa.
Nkunda is a Congolese military man of Tutsi ethnic background, he has honed his skills in the complex wars that have raged in Eastern Congo since the ending of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. First he was involved in the well celebrated campaign to bring an end to the "sleeping" era of Mubutu Seseko in 1997 and then the campaign of the early 2000s where almost 13 countries were involved. Since those wars, Nkunda has emerged as a 'protector' to some communities in Eastern Congo particularly the Tutsi, and a 'warlord' in the western world. His tribesmen, the ethnic Congolese Tutsi are under the constant threat by armed groups that were defeated in in 1994 after their efforts had flared up a genocide. These groups are currently trademarked as "negative forces" they control considerable influence and large swathes of land in the Congo.
The negative forces are another evolution of militias, soldiers, vigilantes who after their suspected participation in the Rwandan Genocide escaped to Eastern Congo and by 1997 had acquired considerable influence to direct opportunity and misery in the region. These included Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda-FDLR, Interahamwe, Mai Mai and over 20 other rebel groupings according to security experts.
The Mai Mai is a remake of the Maji Maji, the historical anti colonial rebellion in Tanzania in 1905 against German rule.
The Tanzanian Maji Maji relied on the 'blessed water' supplied by a Tanzania magician named Kiyingitikire. Unlike their Tanzanian counterparts, the Congolese Mai Mai use guns, and "Silah za'ajabu"-dangerous guns, according to Robert Tumwizere, "they have washed away entire villages" in his hometown of Kibumba. The Mai Mai, although reported to be a threat to certain communities in Eastern Congo, they continue to be part of the mainstream political system of the central government. They also have representation in the provincial legislative assembly sitting in Goma.
Today Obasanjo has come in this remote part of Eastern Congo- two weeks ago under government control- but is now under the management of the National Congress for the Defense of the People led by Nkunda by the bidding of the UN Secretary General, to start a process whereby the Congolese government will negotiate with Nkunda's CNDP to end the recent outbreak of war . This is Jomba hill, it hosts a beautiful catholic mission on its peak and the meeting between the former Nigerian President and the Congolese rebel leader is taking place inside one of the church buildings.
The meeting venue, part of the territory under the control of Nkunda, it is also in the midst of the main food basket of the entire breadth of Eastern Congo. Feeding cities far away as Kigali, Bukavu and Kisangani.
Security is very detailed on the fences of the meeting venue, but outside children play and run around in circles, the elders smoke tobacco and waiting journalists-mostly white and working for prestigious media houses- are silently looking for strategic points to shoot pictures. Everything at first inspection looks if it has been designed by the rebels to look good for these journalists, and cynical as they are wont, the journalists know its all make believe.
But the drive towards Rutshuru is much more natural and serene. Trucks heavily loaded with sacks of foodstuffs and cattle contest for pathway on the small road with MONUC Anti Personnel Carriers, while on the roadsides, what is said by locals to be former security posts and road blocks of the FDLR are still left undisturbed.
The soils along all the hills covering the entire region of Kabuhanga, Bunagana, Rumangabo, Kibumbi and to Rutshuru, the ones occupying the region that covers the borders between Uganda, Rwanda and Dr Congo are probably the most fertile in Central and East Africa. Large parts of this area has been under the control of the CNDP since 2004 and as a result it is a haven of peace compared to many parts in Eastern Congo, and this explains why the meeting is taking place here and why the crowd is so eager to see Nkunda. For the 170 km of the journey from Goma inside the area under the control of CNDP, many of the residents in the area talk f the minerals, but they say the minerals are very far from here, they are mostly in Katanga region and even then, the mines and their products are run privately by Chinese and French companies.
The minerals so often mentioned in international news reports are not evident here, save for Nkunda's metal tipped hand stick.
After a few minutes talking to the press and bidding farewell to Obasanjo's entourage, on the way back to the meeting venue to hold another meeting of the executive council of the CNDP, Nkunda stops and addresses the crowd and promises a second visit soon, "to spend much more time with you." This happens in Kinyarwanda and long after all international journalists had already left.
The residents here are not decided whom between Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Mobutu is their president but asked to choose between Kabila, "any Kabila" and Nkunda. Nkunda is a favourite for many. Even in private chitchats, many don't understand what the fuse about the current humanitarian crisis is about. "Since 2003, we have not had people running away from my village," says Sebahanga Bosco a resident of Jomba.
With this area embroiled in civil conflict involving various rebel groups and bandit militias, there are no investments in the agricultural sector here or any other sector, however the area remains till to-date the food basket of Goma in Eastern Congo, Gisenyi in Western Rwanda and Kisoro in Southern Uganda. It ironic therefore, that humanitarian groups involved in the crisis that currently pits General Laurent Nkunda against the DR Congo government continue assessing the area as a 'humanitarian crisis.'
The timing of the meeting is because the humanitarian groups "feeding the war in our country" according to Sebahanga have complained to Nkunda to open 'humanitarian corridors' so they can supply food to displaced victims of the war.
As the aid organizations raise their concerns about the safety of their 'food convoys' to the above areas, private businessmen buy food from markets in the same area, many as deep as Kibumba hundreds of kilometres inside the territory under the control of the CNDP. The food crops from here include onions, carrots, banana, vegetables and fruits and large numbers of livestock, they transported on Ugandan Fuso trucks locally called 'Ingande' to Goma, Kigali and Uganda by local farmers. There is no government functioning here, the locals, sometimes with their local churches are responsible for most infrastructure in the region.
The agricultural traders here share the small roads with MONUC armored vehicles escorting the aid organizations trucks to Goma. Tumwizere, a driver of one such trucks that carry agricultural produce to Goma says it is not the first time that international aid organizations have got it all wrong in Eastern Congo in recent years : "In 1995, the humanitarian agencies supported an active military establishment under the guise of a refugee camp. This is the current FDLR that is terrorizing us. They are not serious," those MONUC, he says with the confidence of a learned teacher. He is in fact an East African Flight School graduate but upon his return to his region in Eastern Congo found the entire herd of the family cattle slaughtered by the Mai Mai, he now runs a car for hire company in Goma.
He says that many of the busy trading centres we passed through were only two months ago under the Kinshasa government, and adds that only two months ago, the same towns accomodated camps where the FDLR lived undisturbed. "It is these camps that aid organizations claim to have found empty recently he says when we pass one such camps.
The FDLR according to Tumwizere had their own government structure and territory close to the western Rwandan border. "They charged five litres of fuel for every vehicle that passed through Rumangabo township on top of ransacking all material on board,". The FDLR here are real threat, but it is not clear which one between them and the Mai Mai militia is the most feared." While many are wiling to talk about FDLR, many more are afraid to talk about Mai Mai. "My father had 270 heads of cattle in 1995, when the Mai Mai killed him in 1997, there were only 70. Today we have no cattle left in the family."
A senior CNDP official living in the area adds his movement is used to the practices of the humanitarian organizations,he observes that it is not the first time that refugees in Eastern Congo have received undue mercy: "After the Rwandan Genocide, many of the people that were fed by aid organization near Goma turned out to be genocidaires who had a very active military organization that was being assited by these NGOs. For us, what we have dismantled are FDLR camps that were housing our enemies not innocent citizens. The citizens in our area are free, they live in their houses and we have assured them of protection. They are the source of agricultural produce in this region"
BY GEORGE KAGAME&
GEORGE BARYAMWISAKI
Rutshuru, Eastern Congo
At first observation everything looked like it was staged, 'President" Laurent Nkunda was going to meet retired Nigerian leader General Olusegun Obasanjo now serving As special envoy of the UN Secretary General on the congolese crisis. The crisis like a volcano arose from relative slumber in recent times to a full fledged war pitying the National Congress for the Defense of the People, CNDP under the command of General Laurent Nkunda against the government troops of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and what many neutral observes agree are remnants of the genocidal forces in Rwanda in 1994.
The burst up of Eastern Congo followed a rarely peaceful period in recent times after the CNDP and government agreed to "work together", in January this year, Nkunda's people and those of the DRC government negotiated a deal for peace. However towards the weeks ending september, Goma itself was saved from CNDP's capture with the rebels declaring a ceasefire, Obasanjo is here to try to find peaceful means of stopping the war first, then guaranteeing the security of minority tribes in the area against a myriad other rebel groups fighting in this part of Congo, whose government outreach remains very poor, saves for a few roads to transport agricultural produce from the deeper farming communities to markets as far as Gisenyi, Kigali, Goma and Bukavu.
The recent war has seen Nkunda's CNDP capture a number of strategic areas and towns from government control, as a result, international humanitarian organizations have been quick to release reports declaring their analysis of their of the situation, even the UN has increased its peace keeping force to 20,000 the largest mission in the world. The two generals are meeting in a catholic church mission, which after the traditional sunday worship early in the morning, has quickly become an altar of peace, Nkunda calls it "a blessing, a chance for peace." Obasanjo is se to mediate negotiations between CNDP-which is the only group in the region interested in negotiations at all-with the DR Congo government sitting in Kinshasa.
Nkunda is a Congolese military man of Tutsi ethnic background, he has honed his skills in the complex wars that have raged in Eastern Congo since the ending of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. First he was involved in the well celebrated campaign to bring an end to the "sleeping" era of Mubutu Seseko in 1997 and then the campaign of the early 2000s where almost 13 countries were involved. Since those wars, Nkunda has emerged as a 'protector' to some communities in Eastern Congo particularly the Tutsi, and a 'warlord' in the western world. His tribesmen, the ethnic Congolese Tutsi are under the constant threat by armed groups that were defeated in in 1994 after their efforts had flared up a genocide. These groups are currently trademarked as "negative forces" they control considerable influence and large swathes of land in the Congo.
The negative forces are another evolution of militias, soldiers, vigilantes who after their suspected participation in the Rwandan Genocide escaped to Eastern Congo and by 1997 had acquired considerable influence to direct opportunity and misery in the region. These included Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda-FDLR, Interahamwe, Mai Mai and over 20 other rebel groupings according to security experts.
The Mai Mai is a remake of the Maji Maji, the historical anti colonial rebellion in Tanzania in 1905 against German rule.
The Tanzanian Maji Maji relied on the 'blessed water' supplied by a Tanzania magician named Kiyingitikire. Unlike their Tanzanian counterparts, the Congolese Mai Mai use guns, and "Silah za'ajabu"-dangerous guns, according to Robert Tumwizere, "they have washed away entire villages" in his hometown of Kibumba. The Mai Mai, although reported to be a threat to certain communities in Eastern Congo, they continue to be part of the mainstream political system of the central government. They also have representation in the provincial legislative assembly sitting in Goma.
Today Obasanjo has come in this remote part of Eastern Congo- two weeks ago under government control- but is now under the management of the National Congress for the Defense of the People led by Nkunda by the bidding of the UN Secretary General, to start a process whereby the Congolese government will negotiate with Nkunda's CNDP to end the recent outbreak of war . This is Jomba hill, it hosts a beautiful catholic mission on its peak and the meeting between the former Nigerian President and the Congolese rebel leader is taking place inside one of the church buildings.
The meeting venue, part of the territory under the control of Nkunda, it is also in the midst of the main food basket of the entire breadth of Eastern Congo. Feeding cities far away as Kigali, Bukavu and Kisangani.
Security is very detailed on the fences of the meeting venue, but outside children play and run around in circles, the elders smoke tobacco and waiting journalists-mostly white and working for prestigious media houses- are silently looking for strategic points to shoot pictures. Everything at first inspection looks if it has been designed by the rebels to look good for these journalists, and cynical as they are wont, the journalists know its all make believe.
But the drive towards Rutshuru is much more natural and serene. Trucks heavily loaded with sacks of foodstuffs and cattle contest for pathway on the small road with MONUC Anti Personnel Carriers, while on the roadsides, what is said by locals to be former security posts and road blocks of the FDLR are still left undisturbed.
The soils along all the hills covering the entire region of Kabuhanga, Bunagana, Rumangabo, Kibumbi and to Rutshuru, the ones occupying the region that covers the borders between Uganda, Rwanda and Dr Congo are probably the most fertile in Central and East Africa. Large parts of this area has been under the control of the CNDP since 2004 and as a result it is a haven of peace compared to many parts in Eastern Congo, and this explains why the meeting is taking place here and why the crowd is so eager to see Nkunda. For the 170 km of the journey from Goma inside the area under the control of CNDP, many of the residents in the area talk f the minerals, but they say the minerals are very far from here, they are mostly in Katanga region and even then, the mines and their products are run privately by Chinese and French companies.
The minerals so often mentioned in international news reports are not evident here, save for Nkunda's metal tipped hand stick.
After a few minutes talking to the press and bidding farewell to Obasanjo's entourage, on the way back to the meeting venue to hold another meeting of the executive council of the CNDP, Nkunda stops and addresses the crowd and promises a second visit soon, "to spend much more time with you." This happens in Kinyarwanda and long after all international journalists had already left.
The residents here are not decided whom between Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Mobutu is their president but asked to choose between Kabila, "any Kabila" and Nkunda. Nkunda is a favourite for many. Even in private chitchats, many don't understand what the fuse about the current humanitarian crisis is about. "Since 2003, we have not had people running away from my village," says Sebahanga Bosco a resident of Jomba.
With this area embroiled in civil conflict involving various rebel groups and bandit militias, there are no investments in the agricultural sector here or any other sector, however the area remains till to-date the food basket of Goma in Eastern Congo, Gisenyi in Western Rwanda and Kisoro in Southern Uganda. It ironic therefore, that humanitarian groups involved in the crisis that currently pits General Laurent Nkunda against the DR Congo government continue assessing the area as a 'humanitarian crisis.'
The timing of the meeting is because the humanitarian groups "feeding the war in our country" according to Sebahanga have complained to Nkunda to open 'humanitarian corridors' so they can supply food to displaced victims of the war.
As the aid organizations raise their concerns about the safety of their 'food convoys' to the above areas, private businessmen buy food from markets in the same area, many as deep as Kibumba hundreds of kilometres inside the territory under the control of the CNDP. The food crops from here include onions, carrots, banana, vegetables and fruits and large numbers of livestock, they transported on Ugandan Fuso trucks locally called 'Ingande' to Goma, Kigali and Uganda by local farmers. There is no government functioning here, the locals, sometimes with their local churches are responsible for most infrastructure in the region.
The agricultural traders here share the small roads with MONUC armored vehicles escorting the aid organizations trucks to Goma. Tumwizere, a driver of one such trucks that carry agricultural produce to Goma says it is not the first time that international aid organizations have got it all wrong in Eastern Congo in recent years : "In 1995, the humanitarian agencies supported an active military establishment under the guise of a refugee camp. This is the current FDLR that is terrorizing us. They are not serious," those MONUC, he says with the confidence of a learned teacher. He is in fact an East African Flight School graduate but upon his return to his region in Eastern Congo found the entire herd of the family cattle slaughtered by the Mai Mai, he now runs a car for hire company in Goma.
He says that many of the busy trading centres we passed through were only two months ago under the Kinshasa government, and adds that only two months ago, the same towns accomodated camps where the FDLR lived undisturbed. "It is these camps that aid organizations claim to have found empty recently he says when we pass one such camps.
The FDLR according to Tumwizere had their own government structure and territory close to the western Rwandan border. "They charged five litres of fuel for every vehicle that passed through Rumangabo township on top of ransacking all material on board,". The FDLR here are real threat, but it is not clear which one between them and the Mai Mai militia is the most feared." While many are wiling to talk about FDLR, many more are afraid to talk about Mai Mai. "My father had 270 heads of cattle in 1995, when the Mai Mai killed him in 1997, there were only 70. Today we have no cattle left in the family."
A senior CNDP official living in the area adds his movement is used to the practices of the humanitarian organizations,he observes that it is not the first time that refugees in Eastern Congo have received undue mercy: "After the Rwandan Genocide, many of the people that were fed by aid organization near Goma turned out to be genocidaires who had a very active military organization that was being assited by these NGOs. For us, what we have dismantled are FDLR camps that were housing our enemies not innocent citizens. The citizens in our area are free, they live in their houses and we have assured them of protection. They are the source of agricultural produce in this region"
With works on KCC underway, the debate resumes
With works on KCC underway, the debate resumes
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Her client had declared that she was going to have English language lessons, today the shopkeeper-on the outskirts of Kigali-asked her client how far she had gone in the project to learn English. The client bemused by the question answered; "the day that an 'Anglophones' learn as much French as the English i can master, that day i will also learn more English."
After a few more jokes the conversation took on different subjects and thirty minutes later, it had turned to the topic of Kigali Convention Centre, whose construction is currently in full gear, heralded as a solution to regional summits and meeting venue, the conference to be built at a cost of @@@@remains contentious, not least on whom is the ultimate investor and the difference it will make to the city. For many of the residents however, KCC is not just another addition to Kigali's limited monuments, the facility has not been received with the open hands it deserves.
The land on which the centre will seat-circumveting the headquatres of the security bank-Zigama, caused its own controversy as poor tenants were given fast marching orders off the property which is rumoured to be developed by Libyans. The former owners o this land are among many that were resettled or are about to be at the Batsinda housing project set up by Kigali City Council on the fringes of Remera suburbs. The tenants were not given any alternative solutions.
Currently, construction works are underway to build a new road behind the fence of the main post office headquatres through to the front of the Ministry of Justice offices in Kacyiru, when this bypass is completed, Kigali Convention Centre Airport from the parliamentary buildings to KBC will be closes, sometime in January.
The building of the new road was the subject of interest to the aforementioned conversation between client and shopkeeper in Kacyiru. Construction works here because of the poor quality of the soils are causing an eternal cloud of dust over the shop and the building across the road, in which the client worked.
"You see, if you refuse to speak English, you will not refuse to see it," the shopkeeper joked with the client. Claude Sikiofupi, a correspondent with Kigali Notes and a regular customer with the the same shop caught up with the rest of the conversation and had his own contribution. Here below are the excerpts;
Shopkeeper: "Hey Jane, you see the convention centre is very important, you have to respect the people that are building it. I hear that it will have two roads occupying the space of one. One on top of the other. An "etage" of roads. Have you ever seen one like that? It is not even among the roads that i have seen on Nigerian movies."
Client: Relax Mama Mere, all roads are the same, but the question is, when the convention is completed, shall be I be able to find a job there? I hear there will be a 5 star hotel with 279 rooms and executive suites and a conference centre. Surely, there will be much more for me to gain with these things. I don't mind the dust for now?
Shopkeeper: Are you always looking for a job? I have known you for over six years now, and everything makes sense or not depending on whether it will give you a job or not. What are you looking for in life, are you not on a job now?
Client: You see nothing makes sense to me in this country if all i hear are conventions, workshops, conferences and and new roads only passing through or in this case above my neighbourhood and taking all its revenue further away from me. My current job is only small enough to make me your customer. I want to be able to make my shopping in Nakumatt. Have you heard about it?
Shopkeeper: You are a very greedy woman, what is wrong with you shopping from my kiosk? If you are interested in jobs and new businesses in Kigali, i will also give you one now, plans are in advanced stages for the construction of another 5 star hotel where Jali Club is situated today. And with the new master plan of the city, there are more projects even bigger that are coming up. Shall you stay whining about jobs anymore.
Sikiofupi: You are all misrepresenting facts here, Kigali is interested in hotels and convention centres because we are the preferred destination of tourists and conferences. Now you know, the new roads, convention centres are for meetings and discussions, not jobs.
Unless you are a translator.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Her client had declared that she was going to have English language lessons, today the shopkeeper-on the outskirts of Kigali-asked her client how far she had gone in the project to learn English. The client bemused by the question answered; "the day that an 'Anglophones' learn as much French as the English i can master, that day i will also learn more English."
After a few more jokes the conversation took on different subjects and thirty minutes later, it had turned to the topic of Kigali Convention Centre, whose construction is currently in full gear, heralded as a solution to regional summits and meeting venue, the conference to be built at a cost of @@@@remains contentious, not least on whom is the ultimate investor and the difference it will make to the city. For many of the residents however, KCC is not just another addition to Kigali's limited monuments, the facility has not been received with the open hands it deserves.
The land on which the centre will seat-circumveting the headquatres of the security bank-Zigama, caused its own controversy as poor tenants were given fast marching orders off the property which is rumoured to be developed by Libyans. The former owners o this land are among many that were resettled or are about to be at the Batsinda housing project set up by Kigali City Council on the fringes of Remera suburbs. The tenants were not given any alternative solutions.
Currently, construction works are underway to build a new road behind the fence of the main post office headquatres through to the front of the Ministry of Justice offices in Kacyiru, when this bypass is completed, Kigali Convention Centre Airport from the parliamentary buildings to KBC will be closes, sometime in January.
The building of the new road was the subject of interest to the aforementioned conversation between client and shopkeeper in Kacyiru. Construction works here because of the poor quality of the soils are causing an eternal cloud of dust over the shop and the building across the road, in which the client worked.
"You see, if you refuse to speak English, you will not refuse to see it," the shopkeeper joked with the client. Claude Sikiofupi, a correspondent with Kigali Notes and a regular customer with the the same shop caught up with the rest of the conversation and had his own contribution. Here below are the excerpts;
Shopkeeper: "Hey Jane, you see the convention centre is very important, you have to respect the people that are building it. I hear that it will have two roads occupying the space of one. One on top of the other. An "etage" of roads. Have you ever seen one like that? It is not even among the roads that i have seen on Nigerian movies."
Client: Relax Mama Mere, all roads are the same, but the question is, when the convention is completed, shall be I be able to find a job there? I hear there will be a 5 star hotel with 279 rooms and executive suites and a conference centre. Surely, there will be much more for me to gain with these things. I don't mind the dust for now?
Shopkeeper: Are you always looking for a job? I have known you for over six years now, and everything makes sense or not depending on whether it will give you a job or not. What are you looking for in life, are you not on a job now?
Client: You see nothing makes sense to me in this country if all i hear are conventions, workshops, conferences and and new roads only passing through or in this case above my neighbourhood and taking all its revenue further away from me. My current job is only small enough to make me your customer. I want to be able to make my shopping in Nakumatt. Have you heard about it?
Shopkeeper: You are a very greedy woman, what is wrong with you shopping from my kiosk? If you are interested in jobs and new businesses in Kigali, i will also give you one now, plans are in advanced stages for the construction of another 5 star hotel where Jali Club is situated today. And with the new master plan of the city, there are more projects even bigger that are coming up. Shall you stay whining about jobs anymore.
Sikiofupi: You are all misrepresenting facts here, Kigali is interested in hotels and convention centres because we are the preferred destination of tourists and conferences. Now you know, the new roads, convention centres are for meetings and discussions, not jobs.
Unless you are a translator.
MPs call for conceited effort in the fight against gender based violence
MPs call for conceited effort in the fight against gender based violence
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Members of Parliament attending the Wednesday early morning session called on government and relevant institutions to eradicate all forms of violence in families particularly against wives. The legislators, as part of national events to mark the "16 Days of activism against gender based violence", beginning on the same day till 10 December were debating a report compiled by Rwanda National Police on the gender based violence covering the period from 2005-08.
The report revealed alarming cases of attacks against women including rape, defilement, corporal punishment as well as murder by their husbands. In a chilling report, Nyirahirwa Venerandi said that there 259 wives murdered by their husbands in the three years, during the same period, Nyirahirwa said there were over 2000 reported cases of rape to the police in the country and fatally almost 10,000 cases of defilement of children below the age of 18. The report however didnot show statistics concerning gender based violence directed to husbands by their wives.
Nura Nikuze said that sexual harassment was a major concern in the country "sexual harassment at work places is common and needs to be addressed". She said because of the stigma and cultural concerns surrounding the issue, many women were afraid to report cases to authorities and in some cases police officers were wont to tell married women that "your husband beat you up because of your big heads because of emancipation," once these women try to report their violent husbands to authorities.
Nura further appealed to the Fund for Genocide Survivors-FARG to help catering for the scholarship needs of children whose mothers were raped during the 1994 Genocide. One MP said that the Rwandan population need to be sensitized on the Gender Violence Act recently passed by parliament, she asked whether going by current figures marriage was not overstated in the country, "Is it extremely difficult for married couples in Rwanda to have a peaceful separation or divorce that they resort to murder, or is divorce abolished?"
The MPs debate on gender violence is part of national events that the government through the National Gender Cluster in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion along with the United Nations' Fund for the Development of Women have organized to cover the "16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence" campaign to promote gender equality in the country.
The 16 days of activism against gender violence were enacted as UN observed days since 25 November in 1981, in Rwanda, the National Gender Cluster in a communique to the press stated that they have organized major activities to honour the day. These include educational workshops to increase sensitization of government structures like Gacaca, Land and Labour Laws, and the gender based violence Act recently passed by parliament. This year's theme "Human Rights for Women-Human Rights for all", according to the gender cluster is part of on going efforts to raise awareness and call for action against all forms of Gender Based Violence.
Critics note that much as Rwanda continues to be a model country in promoting women empowerment in Africa and the world, as evidenced by the virtue of the country having the highest representation of women in national and local legislative sectors than any other country in the world. Rwanda also remains with many lessons to learn in gender promotion as it recovers from the fatal effects of the 1994 Genocide where scores of women were raped and alot more exposed to the most brutal punishment by especially the Interahamwe community vigilantes. There are many of the victims of this terror in Rwandan society.
The chilling revelations by Police of the extend of gender based violence in the country will put to shame the recent parliamentary elections in Rwanda where more woman than men won parliamentary seats and put Rwanda top of the lost of countries with the most gender friendly policies.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Members of Parliament attending the Wednesday early morning session called on government and relevant institutions to eradicate all forms of violence in families particularly against wives. The legislators, as part of national events to mark the "16 Days of activism against gender based violence", beginning on the same day till 10 December were debating a report compiled by Rwanda National Police on the gender based violence covering the period from 2005-08.
The report revealed alarming cases of attacks against women including rape, defilement, corporal punishment as well as murder by their husbands. In a chilling report, Nyirahirwa Venerandi said that there 259 wives murdered by their husbands in the three years, during the same period, Nyirahirwa said there were over 2000 reported cases of rape to the police in the country and fatally almost 10,000 cases of defilement of children below the age of 18. The report however didnot show statistics concerning gender based violence directed to husbands by their wives.
Nura Nikuze said that sexual harassment was a major concern in the country "sexual harassment at work places is common and needs to be addressed". She said because of the stigma and cultural concerns surrounding the issue, many women were afraid to report cases to authorities and in some cases police officers were wont to tell married women that "your husband beat you up because of your big heads because of emancipation," once these women try to report their violent husbands to authorities.
Nura further appealed to the Fund for Genocide Survivors-FARG to help catering for the scholarship needs of children whose mothers were raped during the 1994 Genocide. One MP said that the Rwandan population need to be sensitized on the Gender Violence Act recently passed by parliament, she asked whether going by current figures marriage was not overstated in the country, "Is it extremely difficult for married couples in Rwanda to have a peaceful separation or divorce that they resort to murder, or is divorce abolished?"
The MPs debate on gender violence is part of national events that the government through the National Gender Cluster in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion along with the United Nations' Fund for the Development of Women have organized to cover the "16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence" campaign to promote gender equality in the country.
The 16 days of activism against gender violence were enacted as UN observed days since 25 November in 1981, in Rwanda, the National Gender Cluster in a communique to the press stated that they have organized major activities to honour the day. These include educational workshops to increase sensitization of government structures like Gacaca, Land and Labour Laws, and the gender based violence Act recently passed by parliament. This year's theme "Human Rights for Women-Human Rights for all", according to the gender cluster is part of on going efforts to raise awareness and call for action against all forms of Gender Based Violence.
Critics note that much as Rwanda continues to be a model country in promoting women empowerment in Africa and the world, as evidenced by the virtue of the country having the highest representation of women in national and local legislative sectors than any other country in the world. Rwanda also remains with many lessons to learn in gender promotion as it recovers from the fatal effects of the 1994 Genocide where scores of women were raped and alot more exposed to the most brutal punishment by especially the Interahamwe community vigilantes. There are many of the victims of this terror in Rwandan society.
The chilling revelations by Police of the extend of gender based violence in the country will put to shame the recent parliamentary elections in Rwanda where more woman than men won parliamentary seats and put Rwanda top of the lost of countries with the most gender friendly policies.
Rwanda begins events to mark 16 days of women empowerment programmes
Rwanda begins events to mark 16 days of women empowerment programmes
BY GEORGE KAGAME
The National Cluster in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion along with its partners in gender equality in Rwanda has organized a series of advocacy activities to celebrate "The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence" beginning today to 10th December.
The 16 days of activism against gender violence were enacted as UN observed days since 25 November in 1981, in Rwanda, the National Gender Cluster in a communique to the press stated that they have organized major activities to honour the day. These include educational workshops to increase sensitization of government structures like Gacaca, Land and Labour Laws, and the gender based violence bill.
The Cluster with partners including UNIFEM, Profemmes, and civil society organizations
will also be showcasing the success story of two couples that have managed to overcome extreme cases of gender based violence, the couples will give their testimonies across rhe cocuntry. The Cluster will further coordinate debate sessions in all institutions of higher learning in the country to increase awareness of the need to abolish gender based violence.
This year's theme "Human Rights for Women-Human Rights for all", according to the gender cluster is part of on going efforts to raise awareness and call for action against all forms of Gender Based Violence.
Observers and academicians note that much as Rwanda continues to be a model country in promoting women empowerment in Africa and the world, as evidenced by the virtue of the country having the highest representation of women in national and local legislative sectors than any other country in the world. Rwanda also remains with many lessons to learn in gender promotion as it recovers from the fatal effects of the 1994 Genocide where scores of women were raped and alot more exposed to the most brutal punishment by especially the Interahamwe community vigilantes. There are many of the victims of this terror in Rwandan society.
In line with gender promotion in security forces, the Rwanda Defense Forces with help from the United Nations' Development Fund for women recently established the gender desk, the desk is a component of the RDF’s programme to combat sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) both in Rwanda and within its peacekeeping missions.
MIGEPROF officials added that the 16 days of gender activism are also celebrated along with other important days in the UN awareness calendar. These include, December 1st as International AIDS Day, to take the opportunity to highlight issues related to the inter-section between HIV/AIDS and Violence Against Women, particularly sexual violence.
A document from the cluster reads in part; "..This campaign aims not only to raise awareness about Gender Based Violence issues and compel communities, government and other stakeholders to act to prevent violence, but to show the relationship between GBV and the violation of fundamental human rights, exposing the social, health, and legal ramifications of GBV. It also serves as a capacity building opportunity for women, encouraging them to speak out against SGBV and demand accountability for the protection of their rights."
BY GEORGE KAGAME
The National Cluster in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion along with its partners in gender equality in Rwanda has organized a series of advocacy activities to celebrate "The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence" beginning today to 10th December.
The 16 days of activism against gender violence were enacted as UN observed days since 25 November in 1981, in Rwanda, the National Gender Cluster in a communique to the press stated that they have organized major activities to honour the day. These include educational workshops to increase sensitization of government structures like Gacaca, Land and Labour Laws, and the gender based violence bill.
The Cluster with partners including UNIFEM, Profemmes, and civil society organizations
will also be showcasing the success story of two couples that have managed to overcome extreme cases of gender based violence, the couples will give their testimonies across rhe cocuntry. The Cluster will further coordinate debate sessions in all institutions of higher learning in the country to increase awareness of the need to abolish gender based violence.
This year's theme "Human Rights for Women-Human Rights for all", according to the gender cluster is part of on going efforts to raise awareness and call for action against all forms of Gender Based Violence.
Observers and academicians note that much as Rwanda continues to be a model country in promoting women empowerment in Africa and the world, as evidenced by the virtue of the country having the highest representation of women in national and local legislative sectors than any other country in the world. Rwanda also remains with many lessons to learn in gender promotion as it recovers from the fatal effects of the 1994 Genocide where scores of women were raped and alot more exposed to the most brutal punishment by especially the Interahamwe community vigilantes. There are many of the victims of this terror in Rwandan society.
In line with gender promotion in security forces, the Rwanda Defense Forces with help from the United Nations' Development Fund for women recently established the gender desk, the desk is a component of the RDF’s programme to combat sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) both in Rwanda and within its peacekeeping missions.
MIGEPROF officials added that the 16 days of gender activism are also celebrated along with other important days in the UN awareness calendar. These include, December 1st as International AIDS Day, to take the opportunity to highlight issues related to the inter-section between HIV/AIDS and Violence Against Women, particularly sexual violence.
A document from the cluster reads in part; "..This campaign aims not only to raise awareness about Gender Based Violence issues and compel communities, government and other stakeholders to act to prevent violence, but to show the relationship between GBV and the violation of fundamental human rights, exposing the social, health, and legal ramifications of GBV. It also serves as a capacity building opportunity for women, encouraging them to speak out against SGBV and demand accountability for the protection of their rights."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)