Nkunda objects to MONUC participation in DRC peace talks
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Eastern Congo
General Laurent Nkunda has refused the inclusion of the United Nations' peace keeping forces-MONUC in negotiation talks to stop the war between the National Congress for the Defense of the people, CNDP and the government of the DR Congo that are due to be mediated by Olusegun Obasanjo, Ban Ki Moon's special envoy in Eastern Congo.
Speaking to journalists in Jomba Catholic mission in the part of Eastern Congo under the control of the CNDP Sunday evening after the first meeting between Obasanjo and the CNDP's General Laurent Nkund. The CNDP leader said he does not trust MONUC to be objective if they participated in the talks that began on the weekend with Obasanjo meeting Joseph Kabila and his Angolan counterpart Dos Santos before flying to meet Nkunda in Jomba 60 km from Goma. "We are supporting Obasanjo because he has been sent by the international community. We believe in him, Obasanjo has experience as a president of Nigeria. We welcome Obasanjo because he is a chance to both of us for peace. But we do not have faith in MONUC. They have sided with government forces to shoot at us, we cannot negotiate with them."
Obasanjo was last week appointed the United Nations' Special Representative to the DR Congo after the recent outbreak of war between the CNDP and the DR Congo government forces last month. After recent fighting, after a bout of several battles-were they increased their hold in Eastern Congo capturing large swathes of land from which settlers had been displaced by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, FDLR-declared a ceasefire but reports say that government and FDLR forces continue to attack CNDP points ad villages where they suspect Congolese ethnic Tutsi to be living. The ceasefire has allowed for diplomatic efforts to be increased to find a peaceful solution to what looks like an eternal crisis in Eastern Congo. Last weekend, DRC foreign affairs minister Alexis Tambwe Muamba was in Kigali and stated that his government was now going to flush out the FDLR from their territory. He also promised to restore diplomatic relations with Rwanda after a decade of silence between the two neighbours.
Nkunda said after the meeting with Obasanjo that the CNDP forces have not put any condition to being integrated into the DRC government forces and that he was not rebelling Kabila's government to get a government position. "My demand is to have solutions to the problems in my country not getting government jobs." Nkunda further stated that he welcomed any means to achieve peace in Eastern Congo, "we do not want to continue fighting because wars are very expensive in men and materials. We are forced to go to war. Today we have a chance to stop the war by talking peace. We hope Kabila is serious with his promises to Obasanjo."
Several of Nkunda's senior aides however expressed skepticism about Kabila's commitment to peace efforts in the region. "We have been here before but Kabila fakes the international community and sends his forces along with the FDLR to attack our people, destroy and rape our women. We shall wait and see what Obasanjo promises, Kabila told him (Obasanjo) that he would talk to us, we wait."
The CNDP forces also reiterated their commitment to hold the ceasefire they declared several days back on their advance towards to Goma, however, before the departure of Obasanjo on Sunday after his talks with Nkunda. There were reports that there was a battle outbreak between government along with FDLR forces against the CNDP near Kanyabayonga, an important communication town after Goma. In this town, government forces on their retreat looted and raped scores after the CNDP had advanced within several kilometres, MONUC and government troops are reported to be fighting on the same aside here.
Obasanjo described the talks with Nkunda as 'extremely good' and added that he (Obasanjo) "now knows Nkunda's concerns. I can put across Nkunda's demands." He added that the renegade soldier has legitimate demands, "his concerns, which everybody wants is the welfare of Congolese people especially the minority in the population.But achieving peace is like dancing Tango, there needs to be a partner. Bot parties needs equal participation in this process."
Dr. Gertrude Mulamula the Executive Director of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region attended the Nkunda Obasanjo talks.
Eastern DR Congo continues to live under a state of insecurity after the end of the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda. It has been established that the masterminds of the Rwandan Genocide fled to this largely jungle region where government control is weak. The the genocidaires have since joined up with the DRC government forces and multiplied in numbers and added o the complex political situation in this agriculturally rich land. The genocide, otherwise known as negative forces have embarked on a sustained campaign to attack Congolese ethnic Tutsi tribesmen. The Tutsi are threatened for their perceived support of the Rwanda's current ruling party-the Rwanda Patriotic Front.
This state of affairs has led to the evolvement of the FDLR and the Interahamwe to form a myriad bandit groups that have ensured insecurity for the Tutsi in the region. in their defense, the Tutsi have supported the development of a renegade soldier General Nkunda to start a military and political machinery to defend the Tutsi known as the CNDP.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
DR Congo and Rwanda to resume diplomatic relations; Muamba
DR Congo and Rwanda to resume diplomatic relations; Muamba
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are set to resume diplomatic relations after @@@ years since both countries ceased high level contact amid. This was revealed by Alexis Tambwe Muamba the Foreign Affairs Minister of DR Congo shortly before a series of closed door meetings with his Rwandan counterpart Rosemary Musemainari at Kigali's Serena Hotel beginning late Friday evening.
"We have undertaken action to normalize relations between DRC and Rwanda, and have moved several stages in the process" said the DRC Minister, he added that the head of DRC's National Police, General John Numbi had received instructions to remove the people currently living in the Rwandan embassy offices in Kinshasa. Muamba revealed that the DRC had sent a team to supervise their embassy in Kigali, "to see that diplomatic relations are restored. We shall be neighbouring countries between ourselves with no other countries involved. We should manage to put mechanisms for mutual existence and we are here to analyze the major issues between our countries."
Muamba led a powerful delegation from the Congo comprising of the Minister of Agriculture Norbert Katitimba, head of the national police General John Numbi and many more. Among the senior Rwandan officials at the meetings include @@@@the Chief Adviser to President Paul Kagame, national intelligence officials, and Joseph @@@@@, President Paul Kagame's Special Envoy to The Great Lakes Region.
During a short press briefing on Friday, Museminari said: "we shall be discussing important issues about security in the region and Eastern Congo, these include the threat of the FDLR- FDLR-Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda whose facets continue to multiply and the ongoing war between the CNDP and the government of DR Congo." She added that Rwanda was ready to participate in whatever way "we" but stated that there was need to find a political solutions to the problems "but this must be agreed upon by all stakeholders involved."
Museminari said there have been several treaties signed by countries in the Great Lakes Region all geared to create and ensure peace and security prevailed, citing the two Nairobi Communiques all with resolutions committing neighbouring countries to work towards peace in the region. She said that last weekend the Congolese government had the responsibility to analyze the situation in her territory so as achieve stability: 'We want to solve the problems concerning peace and security in the region, but Rwanda can only contribute to this process based on the analysis in regard to the war between them and CNDP"-the National Congress for the Defence of the People. She said that her meetings with the DRC delegation was one of problem solving and called upon the DRC government to "solve the problem of the Interahamwe" that are the at centre of security problems in the country.
On his part, Muamba said his government inviting the Rwandan government to go to Kinshasa for further discussions and brief them of his government's meeting with the South African Development Community in Johannesburg over the weekend where Rwanda was not invited. "We are open in Kinshasa to Rwanda's intelligence officers to be part our military structure we have organized to eradicate the FDLR problem. We are working with MONUC forces to solve this issue and we want your intelligence community to be part of the process. We shall send our elite troops to flush out the FDLR in order to avoid this situation going on." Muamba said that his government had organized an evaluation team to assess the effort to deal with FDLR beginning this Sunday and stated that their were informal contacts between his government and General Laurent Nkunda. "We know what he demands," stated Muamba.
Eastern DR Congo continues to live under a state of insecurity after the end of the 1994 Genocide. It has been established that the masterminds of the Rwandan Genocide fled to this largely jungle region where government control is weak and the genocidaires have joined up with the DRC government forces and embarked on a sustained campaign to attack Congolese ethnic Tutsi tribesmen. This state of affairs has led to the evolvement of the Interahamwe and the FDLR to form a myriad bandit groups that have ensured insecurity for the Tutsi in the region. in their defense, the Tutsi have supported the development of a renegade soldier General Nkunda to start a military and political machinery to defend the Tutsi known as the CNDP.
The UN set up a 17000 peace keeping force to ensure peace and security prevailed in the region but these forces especially from Pakistan and India have been accused of being in support of the FDLR by exchange their arms for minerals with the bandits. The Congolese government has turned its accusing finger towards Rwanda saying that President Paul Kagame's government is supporting Nkunda's war against President Joseph Kabila's government. Rwanda has persistently rubbished the claims and recently Gertrude Mulamula the @@@@@@@@@@@
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are set to resume diplomatic relations after @@@ years since both countries ceased high level contact amid. This was revealed by Alexis Tambwe Muamba the Foreign Affairs Minister of DR Congo shortly before a series of closed door meetings with his Rwandan counterpart Rosemary Musemainari at Kigali's Serena Hotel beginning late Friday evening.
"We have undertaken action to normalize relations between DRC and Rwanda, and have moved several stages in the process" said the DRC Minister, he added that the head of DRC's National Police, General John Numbi had received instructions to remove the people currently living in the Rwandan embassy offices in Kinshasa. Muamba revealed that the DRC had sent a team to supervise their embassy in Kigali, "to see that diplomatic relations are restored. We shall be neighbouring countries between ourselves with no other countries involved. We should manage to put mechanisms for mutual existence and we are here to analyze the major issues between our countries."
Muamba led a powerful delegation from the Congo comprising of the Minister of Agriculture Norbert Katitimba, head of the national police General John Numbi and many more. Among the senior Rwandan officials at the meetings include @@@@the Chief Adviser to President Paul Kagame, national intelligence officials, and Joseph @@@@@, President Paul Kagame's Special Envoy to The Great Lakes Region.
During a short press briefing on Friday, Museminari said: "we shall be discussing important issues about security in the region and Eastern Congo, these include the threat of the FDLR- FDLR-Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda whose facets continue to multiply and the ongoing war between the CNDP and the government of DR Congo." She added that Rwanda was ready to participate in whatever way "we" but stated that there was need to find a political solutions to the problems "but this must be agreed upon by all stakeholders involved."
Museminari said there have been several treaties signed by countries in the Great Lakes Region all geared to create and ensure peace and security prevailed, citing the two Nairobi Communiques all with resolutions committing neighbouring countries to work towards peace in the region. She said that last weekend the Congolese government had the responsibility to analyze the situation in her territory so as achieve stability: 'We want to solve the problems concerning peace and security in the region, but Rwanda can only contribute to this process based on the analysis in regard to the war between them and CNDP"-the National Congress for the Defence of the People. She said that her meetings with the DRC delegation was one of problem solving and called upon the DRC government to "solve the problem of the Interahamwe" that are the at centre of security problems in the country.
On his part, Muamba said his government inviting the Rwandan government to go to Kinshasa for further discussions and brief them of his government's meeting with the South African Development Community in Johannesburg over the weekend where Rwanda was not invited. "We are open in Kinshasa to Rwanda's intelligence officers to be part our military structure we have organized to eradicate the FDLR problem. We are working with MONUC forces to solve this issue and we want your intelligence community to be part of the process. We shall send our elite troops to flush out the FDLR in order to avoid this situation going on." Muamba said that his government had organized an evaluation team to assess the effort to deal with FDLR beginning this Sunday and stated that their were informal contacts between his government and General Laurent Nkunda. "We know what he demands," stated Muamba.
Eastern DR Congo continues to live under a state of insecurity after the end of the 1994 Genocide. It has been established that the masterminds of the Rwandan Genocide fled to this largely jungle region where government control is weak and the genocidaires have joined up with the DRC government forces and embarked on a sustained campaign to attack Congolese ethnic Tutsi tribesmen. This state of affairs has led to the evolvement of the Interahamwe and the FDLR to form a myriad bandit groups that have ensured insecurity for the Tutsi in the region. in their defense, the Tutsi have supported the development of a renegade soldier General Nkunda to start a military and political machinery to defend the Tutsi known as the CNDP.
The UN set up a 17000 peace keeping force to ensure peace and security prevailed in the region but these forces especially from Pakistan and India have been accused of being in support of the FDLR by exchange their arms for minerals with the bandits. The Congolese government has turned its accusing finger towards Rwanda saying that President Paul Kagame's government is supporting Nkunda's war against President Joseph Kabila's government. Rwanda has persistently rubbished the claims and recently Gertrude Mulamula the @@@@@@@@@@@
Gasabo residents IN protest march German's DW masts in support of Kabuye
Gasabo residents IN protest march German's DW masts in support of Kabuye
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Thousands of Gasabo district residents yesterday braved the midmorning heat and light rains to the hilltop of Kibagabaga suburb protesting against German's continued detention of Rose Kabuye on the verge of her transfer to France.
The residents made long lines in the middle of the road walking from as far as Kabuga and Kacyiru to the Kinyinya intersections where they joined up and moved to up to Deustch Welle's radio masts holding placards that called for the Freedom of Kabuye. Among prominent protesters included Rwanda Defense Forces' Chief of General Staff James Kabarebe and Caesar Kayizari who drove his military double cabin slowly through the marching crowds and they chanted his name. Many of the marchers also spotted a green badge with a rose floe flower to show their support to Kabuye who was due to be extradited to France on the same day to face charges for her alleged role in shooting down the plane on 6th April 1994 before the onset of the Rwandan Genocide that claimed close to one million people in 100 days.
France sued 9 senior leaders of the Rwanda Patriotic Front accusing them of shooting down the plane carrying ex president Juvenal Habyarimana, the incident has been investigated by many including the United Nations' but no one has come up with a definite answer as to who was responsible for the shooting but many neutral observers believe that the plane was shot by the famous 'Akazu' in Habyarimana's regime-which after organizing the genocide wanted a spark to set it off. The French government is trying the RPF leaders because of their three nationals that died along with Habyarimana.
Robert Mugenzi a resident of Kanombe and part of demonstrators said he was marching to show his support for the current government; "this government has got us from being ignored to our present status. Am proud to be a Rwandan today because this government has done alot of good. The Germans and French want to discredit our leaders by issuing their warrants but we shall rally behind our leaders and we will refuse Europeans making decisions for us."
For Claude Ntambara the protest was about Rwandans showing their anger against the insensitivity of Europeans towards Africans: "how can the French be concerned or care about Rwanda, they are jealous that the country has moved on without their patronage and instead of cooperation they have resorted to arresting our leaders who have done more for the country in a short time than Habyariamana and his French cohorts could do since independence."
For Jaque Nzamwita the protests were about the determination of Rwanda to get rid of French influence in the country, he said that France is mad for Rwanda for breaking away from their wings; "am here to detest France's role in Rwanda before and even now. They are using Kabuye to prove that they power in the international community but we are determined to protest peacefully to get the truth known."
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Thousands of Gasabo district residents yesterday braved the midmorning heat and light rains to the hilltop of Kibagabaga suburb protesting against German's continued detention of Rose Kabuye on the verge of her transfer to France.
The residents made long lines in the middle of the road walking from as far as Kabuga and Kacyiru to the Kinyinya intersections where they joined up and moved to up to Deustch Welle's radio masts holding placards that called for the Freedom of Kabuye. Among prominent protesters included Rwanda Defense Forces' Chief of General Staff James Kabarebe and Caesar Kayizari who drove his military double cabin slowly through the marching crowds and they chanted his name. Many of the marchers also spotted a green badge with a rose floe flower to show their support to Kabuye who was due to be extradited to France on the same day to face charges for her alleged role in shooting down the plane on 6th April 1994 before the onset of the Rwandan Genocide that claimed close to one million people in 100 days.
France sued 9 senior leaders of the Rwanda Patriotic Front accusing them of shooting down the plane carrying ex president Juvenal Habyarimana, the incident has been investigated by many including the United Nations' but no one has come up with a definite answer as to who was responsible for the shooting but many neutral observers believe that the plane was shot by the famous 'Akazu' in Habyarimana's regime-which after organizing the genocide wanted a spark to set it off. The French government is trying the RPF leaders because of their three nationals that died along with Habyarimana.
Robert Mugenzi a resident of Kanombe and part of demonstrators said he was marching to show his support for the current government; "this government has got us from being ignored to our present status. Am proud to be a Rwandan today because this government has done alot of good. The Germans and French want to discredit our leaders by issuing their warrants but we shall rally behind our leaders and we will refuse Europeans making decisions for us."
For Claude Ntambara the protest was about Rwandans showing their anger against the insensitivity of Europeans towards Africans: "how can the French be concerned or care about Rwanda, they are jealous that the country has moved on without their patronage and instead of cooperation they have resorted to arresting our leaders who have done more for the country in a short time than Habyariamana and his French cohorts could do since independence."
For Jaque Nzamwita the protests were about the determination of Rwanda to get rid of French influence in the country, he said that France is mad for Rwanda for breaking away from their wings; "am here to detest France's role in Rwanda before and even now. They are using Kabuye to prove that they power in the international community but we are determined to protest peacefully to get the truth known."
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Top Musicians dedicate new joint single to Kabuye
Top Musicians dedicate new joint single to Kabuye
BY GEORGE KAGAME&
GLORIA ANYANGO
Top musicians in the country have added their voices in support of Rose Kabuye by dedicating their recent joint track Tuzatsinda to Rose Kabuye, the National State Protocol officer being detained in Frankfurt after German authorities arrested her recently on the orders of a French judge.
Speaking on behalf of the musicians to journalists on Tuesday ahead of the song's release, Sergeant Robert Kabera one of the composers of the song said top musicians including Masamba, Miss Jojo and Channel, Ben Ngabo Petit, Natty Dread among others were concerned about the unfairness of the arrest and wanted their views to be recorded.
"We want to show our disapproval of the people that oppose Rwanda's destiny and those that want to change history to suit them especially France and German," said the renowned former army crooner. Kabera said it is not the first time that Rwanda's top musicians have united their efforts to compile music about major issues affecting the country: "in the past we have combined our talents to sing about the youth and younger children who form 65 percent of the national population today, he mentioned Love to love and Abaana as some of such songs. In our song titled, "Abaana", we employ policy makers to protect and promote the rights of the youth."
The song dedicated to Kabuye is titled Tuzabatsinda and features rhymes in Kinya-Rwanda, English, German, French and Swahili.
Kabera said the arrest of Kabuye at Frankfurt airport is major issue in Rwanda's politics and was an example whereby: "Europeans are very good at turning shame into unreasonable anger and arrogance. Kabuye's arrest is painful for us as musicians and it was important for us to contribute in ways we can to contribute to the process of the rebuilding of the country.
The song appeals to Rwandans of all creeds to unite and assures Kabuye of the support of the whole nation, it also encourages the listener to be strong because Rwanda has faced many challenges in the past and overcome them. Kabuye and Rwanda will be like the biblical story of the rejected stone which later became the chief corner stone: . "We are winners and we are behind you Kabuye even if our enemies so big/like in the bible-where a stone was rejected but later became the chief cornerstone,-we will victor," goes the lyrics of the song.
BY GEORGE KAGAME&
GLORIA ANYANGO
Top musicians in the country have added their voices in support of Rose Kabuye by dedicating their recent joint track Tuzatsinda to Rose Kabuye, the National State Protocol officer being detained in Frankfurt after German authorities arrested her recently on the orders of a French judge.
Speaking on behalf of the musicians to journalists on Tuesday ahead of the song's release, Sergeant Robert Kabera one of the composers of the song said top musicians including Masamba, Miss Jojo and Channel, Ben Ngabo Petit, Natty Dread among others were concerned about the unfairness of the arrest and wanted their views to be recorded.
"We want to show our disapproval of the people that oppose Rwanda's destiny and those that want to change history to suit them especially France and German," said the renowned former army crooner. Kabera said it is not the first time that Rwanda's top musicians have united their efforts to compile music about major issues affecting the country: "in the past we have combined our talents to sing about the youth and younger children who form 65 percent of the national population today, he mentioned Love to love and Abaana as some of such songs. In our song titled, "Abaana", we employ policy makers to protect and promote the rights of the youth."
The song dedicated to Kabuye is titled Tuzabatsinda and features rhymes in Kinya-Rwanda, English, German, French and Swahili.
Kabera said the arrest of Kabuye at Frankfurt airport is major issue in Rwanda's politics and was an example whereby: "Europeans are very good at turning shame into unreasonable anger and arrogance. Kabuye's arrest is painful for us as musicians and it was important for us to contribute in ways we can to contribute to the process of the rebuilding of the country.
The song appeals to Rwandans of all creeds to unite and assures Kabuye of the support of the whole nation, it also encourages the listener to be strong because Rwanda has faced many challenges in the past and overcome them. Kabuye and Rwanda will be like the biblical story of the rejected stone which later became the chief corner stone: . "We are winners and we are behind you Kabuye even if our enemies so big/like in the bible-where a stone was rejected but later became the chief cornerstone,-we will victor," goes the lyrics of the song.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Nkunda denies CNDP break Up
Accuses Rwanda of betrayal and using General John BoscoNtaganda to take minerals out of DR Congo on behalf of President Paul Kagame
GEORGE KAGAME
In an exclusive interview with The New Times yesterday, General Laurent Nkunda;theChairman of the National Congress for the Defense of the People said he was concerned with the recent developments concerning relations between Rwanda and Congo.
The CNDP is the largest and strongest rebel group in Eastern DR Congo and Nkunda was responding to questions regarding the restoration of diplomatic relations between DR Congo and Rwanda after foreign ministers from the two countries signed started a series of high level talks at Kigali’s Serena Hotel.
Rwanda and DR Congo have been at loggerheads since the end of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, they have fought a series of wars as well as supporting a myriad proxy wars against each other.
On Friday after DR Congolese foreign affairs minister Tambwe and his host Rosemary Museminari announced to the press that they were set to open embassies respectively in Kinshasa and Kigali.
Nkunda was speaking from Jomba is eastern DR Congo after meeting with the former president of Nigeria General OlusegunObasanjo who is currently working as the UN Special Secretary General Special Envoy in Eastern Congo. Olusegun is mandated by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to help negotiate a peaceful end to the military conflict in Eastern DR Congo where more than five million people have been displaced and millions more killed according to human rights organizations.
Reacting to reports of massacres in Kiwanja a small town east of Goma the regional capital in which more than 150 people were killed in the weekend of his meeting with Obasanjo, Nkunda said that some elements within the CNDP wanted to capture Goma before the negotiations started.
“Some of our officers wanted to capture Goma such that the CNDP would have a bigger bargaining position with Joseph Kabila’s government. But I refused that strategy; it is not my strategy I think it was suggested by elements within the Rwandan army. We cannot accept Rwandan officers dictating command in Congo. I’m a General and I do not take orders from anybody,” said General Nkunda.
The negotiations between Nkunda’s CNDP with the DR Congo government are to be held in Nairobi Kenya and start on early next month. Both parties are due to send delegations for peace talks to a Nairobi hotel where Obasanjo as well as former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa will be mediators. Speaking about the peace talks, Nkunda said that he never wanted MONUC to be part of the peace talks as they were not necessarily independent observers; “we have fought against the MONOC, they shoot at us. How can you have your enemy also acting as your judge?” asked Nkunda.
Nkunda said that the hardliner elements within the CNDP are General John BoscoNtaganda who in a shocking twist is said to be leading a split of the CNDP. Ntaganda’s breakaway faction is said to be finalizing a list of its own delegation to send to the peace talks. This is likely to undermine the authority and leadership of General Nkunda.
Nkunda said that these developments are the work of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame; “Kagame wants to control this part of DR Congo, tell him this is our country, we cahll solve our own problems as Congolese. And if he continues undermining my authority I will shame him in the world, we know about his interests here and it is not to protect the Tutsi of Congo but to rob its minerals, He is using Ntaganda as an element to disorganize the CNDP but he will never succeed.”
Ntaganda, according to CNDP highly placed sources is already holding meetings with the DR Congo government, in a consortium that involves the MONUC forces in eastern Congo about the possible ceasefire.
After the departure of Obasanjo, there were reports that 150 people were massacred at Kiwanja in the morning of 4 November 2004.
Nkunda’s forces were blamed for the killings and he denied the charges in the international press but while answering questions in Kinyarwanda, Nkunda said that Rwandan officers who were helping the CNDP were was too greedy and he was fearful of their recent maneuvers.
Nkunda further emphasized that neither he nor the CNDP were responsible for the massacres of Kiwanja but suspected that General Ntaganda who had not communicated with him for two days might have given the orders to ransack Kiwanja.
"And before we came back to Kiwanja the governor of Goma, in the morning, announced that in Kiwanja there were massacres. When I heard on the radio that there were massacres in Kiwanja, I called my guys [soldiers] on the ground and said, "Where are you?" They said, "We are in Rutshuru." I said, "Who is doing this?" They said they did not know, that they were in Rutshuru."
But General revealed that relations with his alleged backer; Rwanda are not good and that events leading to Rwanda’s recent cordial approach to mend relations with the DR Congo needs further scrutiny.
The renegade general warned Rwanda that Rwanda risked ‘great dangers’ if as it was announced over the weekend that his deputy General John BoscoNtaganda had dethroned Nkunda and was sending a separate team to peace negotiations and that the delegation would be backed by Rwanda.
Ntaganda, who has a UN arrest warrant on him issued for war crimes and crimes against humanity was not at the Jomba were Obasanjo and Nkunda held their first meeting along with Gertrude the executive director of the International Crisis committee of the Great Lakes Region for the CNDP to start negotiations with the government of DR Congo.
Ntaganda is said to be a Rwandan who was sent to DR Congo by President Paul Kagame to help General Laurent Nkunda in fighting against the perpetuators of the Rwandan genocide who roam free in DR Congo. However, many security experts say that Ntaganda is in fact Rwanda’s man sent to supervise and control areas where large mineral deposits and minefields are reported to be.
The experts say that Ntagnda’s presence in Congo explains why Rwanda is one of the leading exporters of gold in the GREAT lakes region even when the country has meager resources of the precious stone.
A New Times reporter; PaulusKayigwa who reported on this unusual Rwanda gold export figures for 2008 over the weekend was summarily dismissed from his job.
Ends
GEORGE KAGAME
In an exclusive interview with The New Times yesterday, General Laurent Nkunda;theChairman of the National Congress for the Defense of the People said he was concerned with the recent developments concerning relations between Rwanda and Congo.
The CNDP is the largest and strongest rebel group in Eastern DR Congo and Nkunda was responding to questions regarding the restoration of diplomatic relations between DR Congo and Rwanda after foreign ministers from the two countries signed started a series of high level talks at Kigali’s Serena Hotel.
Rwanda and DR Congo have been at loggerheads since the end of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, they have fought a series of wars as well as supporting a myriad proxy wars against each other.
On Friday after DR Congolese foreign affairs minister Tambwe and his host Rosemary Museminari announced to the press that they were set to open embassies respectively in Kinshasa and Kigali.
Nkunda was speaking from Jomba is eastern DR Congo after meeting with the former president of Nigeria General OlusegunObasanjo who is currently working as the UN Special Secretary General Special Envoy in Eastern Congo. Olusegun is mandated by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to help negotiate a peaceful end to the military conflict in Eastern DR Congo where more than five million people have been displaced and millions more killed according to human rights organizations.
Reacting to reports of massacres in Kiwanja a small town east of Goma the regional capital in which more than 150 people were killed in the weekend of his meeting with Obasanjo, Nkunda said that some elements within the CNDP wanted to capture Goma before the negotiations started.
“Some of our officers wanted to capture Goma such that the CNDP would have a bigger bargaining position with Joseph Kabila’s government. But I refused that strategy; it is not my strategy I think it was suggested by elements within the Rwandan army. We cannot accept Rwandan officers dictating command in Congo. I’m a General and I do not take orders from anybody,” said General Nkunda.
The negotiations between Nkunda’s CNDP with the DR Congo government are to be held in Nairobi Kenya and start on early next month. Both parties are due to send delegations for peace talks to a Nairobi hotel where Obasanjo as well as former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa will be mediators. Speaking about the peace talks, Nkunda said that he never wanted MONUC to be part of the peace talks as they were not necessarily independent observers; “we have fought against the MONOC, they shoot at us. How can you have your enemy also acting as your judge?” asked Nkunda.
Nkunda said that the hardliner elements within the CNDP are General John BoscoNtaganda who in a shocking twist is said to be leading a split of the CNDP. Ntaganda’s breakaway faction is said to be finalizing a list of its own delegation to send to the peace talks. This is likely to undermine the authority and leadership of General Nkunda.
Nkunda said that these developments are the work of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame; “Kagame wants to control this part of DR Congo, tell him this is our country, we cahll solve our own problems as Congolese. And if he continues undermining my authority I will shame him in the world, we know about his interests here and it is not to protect the Tutsi of Congo but to rob its minerals, He is using Ntaganda as an element to disorganize the CNDP but he will never succeed.”
Ntaganda, according to CNDP highly placed sources is already holding meetings with the DR Congo government, in a consortium that involves the MONUC forces in eastern Congo about the possible ceasefire.
After the departure of Obasanjo, there were reports that 150 people were massacred at Kiwanja in the morning of 4 November 2004.
Nkunda’s forces were blamed for the killings and he denied the charges in the international press but while answering questions in Kinyarwanda, Nkunda said that Rwandan officers who were helping the CNDP were was too greedy and he was fearful of their recent maneuvers.
Nkunda further emphasized that neither he nor the CNDP were responsible for the massacres of Kiwanja but suspected that General Ntaganda who had not communicated with him for two days might have given the orders to ransack Kiwanja.
"And before we came back to Kiwanja the governor of Goma, in the morning, announced that in Kiwanja there were massacres. When I heard on the radio that there were massacres in Kiwanja, I called my guys [soldiers] on the ground and said, "Where are you?" They said, "We are in Rutshuru." I said, "Who is doing this?" They said they did not know, that they were in Rutshuru."
But General revealed that relations with his alleged backer; Rwanda are not good and that events leading to Rwanda’s recent cordial approach to mend relations with the DR Congo needs further scrutiny.
The renegade general warned Rwanda that Rwanda risked ‘great dangers’ if as it was announced over the weekend that his deputy General John BoscoNtaganda had dethroned Nkunda and was sending a separate team to peace negotiations and that the delegation would be backed by Rwanda.
Ntaganda, who has a UN arrest warrant on him issued for war crimes and crimes against humanity was not at the Jomba were Obasanjo and Nkunda held their first meeting along with Gertrude the executive director of the International Crisis committee of the Great Lakes Region for the CNDP to start negotiations with the government of DR Congo.
Ntaganda is said to be a Rwandan who was sent to DR Congo by President Paul Kagame to help General Laurent Nkunda in fighting against the perpetuators of the Rwandan genocide who roam free in DR Congo. However, many security experts say that Ntaganda is in fact Rwanda’s man sent to supervise and control areas where large mineral deposits and minefields are reported to be.
The experts say that Ntagnda’s presence in Congo explains why Rwanda is one of the leading exporters of gold in the GREAT lakes region even when the country has meager resources of the precious stone.
A New Times reporter; PaulusKayigwa who reported on this unusual Rwanda gold export figures for 2008 over the weekend was summarily dismissed from his job.
Ends
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Blair calls for practical efficiency from Rwandan leaders for 'vision to become reality'
Blair calls for practical efficiency from Rwandan leaders for 'vision to become reality'
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has called for more Rwandans with commitment to make the vision of the country a reality. Blair who is on a marathon working visit to Rwanda was on Wednesday meeting with key ministers for private sector investment at Village Urugwiro.
He said that the government of Rwanda had the potential to 'wave goodbye to donors' and he was "supporting the process of transforming that vision into reality."
The meeting was attended by Linda Bihire, the Minister of Infrastructure, Stanisla Kamanzi, Minister Environmental Affairs and Renewable Energy, as well as Agnes Kalibata, state Minister for Agriculture. Also present were Major General Frank Mugambage the director of cabinet, and Minister of Finance James Musoni who chaired the meeting.
The ministers discussed Rwanda's planned long term development projects underway or soon to begin. These ranged from a cross section of fields like infrastructure, road networks to speed up the country’s integration process in the East African Community. The projects were presented by government officials involved in the real sector development strategy and drivers' for growth.
Among projects underway include reforms the government has adopted in the improvement of service efficiency in the commercial operations both in the private and public sectors as well as land ownership reforms. The land title reforms were underway beginning last money where new tittles were issued to land owners that had applied.
Lands Minister Kamanzi said the titles are set to increase access to financial services to a large number of Rwandans who in turn will expand the private sector especially in agricultural development as they will have more access to bank services. The government also revealed plans to construct several roads linking Rwanda to Tanzania and the crucial seaport of Dar Salaam. These included railway projects from Isaka Tanzania to Rwanda and the Isaka Musongati Kigali highway.
Blair who jetted in Rwanda this week after meeting Middle East leaders in his other capacity as envoy working on behalf of the US, Russia, the UN and the EU in the Middle East said that his office was engaged to work with the Rwanda government towards the practical implementation of Rwanda's ambitions today. But he cautioned the leaders that even if his office can help the country, there should be efficient Rwandans committed to working, adding if that happened, Rwanda could achieve her stated desire to wave goodbye to the donor community and would be among the countries creating their own future.
He offered to serve as President Paul Kagame's non paid advisor upon stepping down as Prime Minister in 2007. He said: "For Rwanda, it’s a special moment. Even with the external crisis, Rwanda is trying to achieve her vision. President Kagame wants total unity and beyond that he has worked hard to develop all sectors of the economy. The terrible things that happened here have been resolved and the government is now trying to promote a stable successful country to make Rwandans develop."
Blair further challenged the nature of relationships that exists between donor and raid recipient countries:" There must be capacity built in the country to sustain itself. Development today is not about multiple negotiations between aid recipient executives and their donor counterparts talking big figures of funds." He also said it was important to leaders able and committed to making her ambitions a reality, he added that his time as Britain's Prime Minister for 10 years was a good example for Rwandan leaders to follow:
"Before becoming Prime Minister I never had any prior experience in government. My first job with government was also the top most. For years thinking and getting the vision right as Prime Minister. I learnt the need to have the right structure around me."
Ends
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has called for more Rwandans with commitment to make the vision of the country a reality. Blair who is on a marathon working visit to Rwanda was on Wednesday meeting with key ministers for private sector investment at Village Urugwiro.
He said that the government of Rwanda had the potential to 'wave goodbye to donors' and he was "supporting the process of transforming that vision into reality."
The meeting was attended by Linda Bihire, the Minister of Infrastructure, Stanisla Kamanzi, Minister Environmental Affairs and Renewable Energy, as well as Agnes Kalibata, state Minister for Agriculture. Also present were Major General Frank Mugambage the director of cabinet, and Minister of Finance James Musoni who chaired the meeting.
The ministers discussed Rwanda's planned long term development projects underway or soon to begin. These ranged from a cross section of fields like infrastructure, road networks to speed up the country’s integration process in the East African Community. The projects were presented by government officials involved in the real sector development strategy and drivers' for growth.
Among projects underway include reforms the government has adopted in the improvement of service efficiency in the commercial operations both in the private and public sectors as well as land ownership reforms. The land title reforms were underway beginning last money where new tittles were issued to land owners that had applied.
Lands Minister Kamanzi said the titles are set to increase access to financial services to a large number of Rwandans who in turn will expand the private sector especially in agricultural development as they will have more access to bank services. The government also revealed plans to construct several roads linking Rwanda to Tanzania and the crucial seaport of Dar Salaam. These included railway projects from Isaka Tanzania to Rwanda and the Isaka Musongati Kigali highway.
Blair who jetted in Rwanda this week after meeting Middle East leaders in his other capacity as envoy working on behalf of the US, Russia, the UN and the EU in the Middle East said that his office was engaged to work with the Rwanda government towards the practical implementation of Rwanda's ambitions today. But he cautioned the leaders that even if his office can help the country, there should be efficient Rwandans committed to working, adding if that happened, Rwanda could achieve her stated desire to wave goodbye to the donor community and would be among the countries creating their own future.
He offered to serve as President Paul Kagame's non paid advisor upon stepping down as Prime Minister in 2007. He said: "For Rwanda, it’s a special moment. Even with the external crisis, Rwanda is trying to achieve her vision. President Kagame wants total unity and beyond that he has worked hard to develop all sectors of the economy. The terrible things that happened here have been resolved and the government is now trying to promote a stable successful country to make Rwandans develop."
Blair further challenged the nature of relationships that exists between donor and raid recipient countries:" There must be capacity built in the country to sustain itself. Development today is not about multiple negotiations between aid recipient executives and their donor counterparts talking big figures of funds." He also said it was important to leaders able and committed to making her ambitions a reality, he added that his time as Britain's Prime Minister for 10 years was a good example for Rwandan leaders to follow:
"Before becoming Prime Minister I never had any prior experience in government. My first job with government was also the top most. For years thinking and getting the vision right as Prime Minister. I learnt the need to have the right structure around me."
Ends
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Why the fences, Kigali House owners lament KCC
Why the fences, Kigali House owners lament KCC
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
Kigali City authorities are a busy lot; they are working around the clock to ensure that the city is beautiful, attractive and is on time to achieve everything that Vision 2020 stands for.
Having realized the cut throat competition and its ‘pulling power’ to win the favour of tourists that visit the East African Community, city managers along with other more glamorous agencies like tourism, they decided that security was crucial in winning over the tourists.
As a result, it is a known fact that Kigali has many disadvantages in comparison to other neighbouring urban centres but the one thousand hills centre is high up on the grader of safety to its residents and visitors.
After visiting our sacred gorillas, Kigali visitors and its dwellers can walk around the city and its surrounding environs with their most expensive possessions and have no fear of being mugged or shoved over a bridge overlooking Cadillac night club safely on their way to Kimiruhura or any of other various summer homes mushrooming in the suburbs.
In comparison regional cities, Kigali has also created itself a niche as a clean, green and paved city-however the observers responsible for that publicity seem to have limited their mission in Kacyiru, Kiyovu and never at all visited my neighbourhood in Nyamirambo, Kacyiru Kabagari or even the busy district of Nyabugogo. Had they made the effort, Kigali’s attributes and description would be far more balanced and fair.
The race to please Kigali’s observers has however left many with sour stories about our city administrators. In recent times the administrators decided that hedge fences which were one of the most enduring images of Kigali were spoiling its surface beauty and decreed that all hedges were to be destroyed henceforth and replaced by wall fences.
To be fair to KCC, when the decision to de-hedge city houses was taken, a loan facility was introduced to help house owners that could not afford to build wall fences but this facility has been criticized for its unnecessary stringent conditions that urban peasants fear are made to chase them away far from the city.
Those that could not afford to build wall fences were instructed to cut the hedges down. This left many house owners in Kigali cursing city managers, as a recent roadside ranting by three home owners at Kwa’Rubangura taxi stand reveals.
House owner one: With all the statistics and talk about poverty in the country, it is a blessing to my own house in Kigali. My major concern like that of many fellow Rwandans is to have a house. And if am lucky to have hedges for a fence am very lucky. I belong to the small statistics of this country.
House Owner two: The genocide has on several occasions been blamed on the obedience of Rwandans; we follow all kinds of instructions-even ones that we cannot understand. This is one that we should unite to refuse. We should tell this to our loving woman MP who in turn will plead our tribulations to the parliament.
House owner three: What is wrong with the mayors? They decide for us where, which types of houses to build and what materials to use. Do we still have any independence left to ourselves? I will not be surprised if the next Imihogo paper suggests which type of woman my son should marry! As if asking me to buy a radio and television set in the current ones was not humiliating enough.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
Kigali City authorities are a busy lot; they are working around the clock to ensure that the city is beautiful, attractive and is on time to achieve everything that Vision 2020 stands for.
Having realized the cut throat competition and its ‘pulling power’ to win the favour of tourists that visit the East African Community, city managers along with other more glamorous agencies like tourism, they decided that security was crucial in winning over the tourists.
As a result, it is a known fact that Kigali has many disadvantages in comparison to other neighbouring urban centres but the one thousand hills centre is high up on the grader of safety to its residents and visitors.
After visiting our sacred gorillas, Kigali visitors and its dwellers can walk around the city and its surrounding environs with their most expensive possessions and have no fear of being mugged or shoved over a bridge overlooking Cadillac night club safely on their way to Kimiruhura or any of other various summer homes mushrooming in the suburbs.
In comparison regional cities, Kigali has also created itself a niche as a clean, green and paved city-however the observers responsible for that publicity seem to have limited their mission in Kacyiru, Kiyovu and never at all visited my neighbourhood in Nyamirambo, Kacyiru Kabagari or even the busy district of Nyabugogo. Had they made the effort, Kigali’s attributes and description would be far more balanced and fair.
The race to please Kigali’s observers has however left many with sour stories about our city administrators. In recent times the administrators decided that hedge fences which were one of the most enduring images of Kigali were spoiling its surface beauty and decreed that all hedges were to be destroyed henceforth and replaced by wall fences.
To be fair to KCC, when the decision to de-hedge city houses was taken, a loan facility was introduced to help house owners that could not afford to build wall fences but this facility has been criticized for its unnecessary stringent conditions that urban peasants fear are made to chase them away far from the city.
Those that could not afford to build wall fences were instructed to cut the hedges down. This left many house owners in Kigali cursing city managers, as a recent roadside ranting by three home owners at Kwa’Rubangura taxi stand reveals.
House owner one: With all the statistics and talk about poverty in the country, it is a blessing to my own house in Kigali. My major concern like that of many fellow Rwandans is to have a house. And if am lucky to have hedges for a fence am very lucky. I belong to the small statistics of this country.
House Owner two: The genocide has on several occasions been blamed on the obedience of Rwandans; we follow all kinds of instructions-even ones that we cannot understand. This is one that we should unite to refuse. We should tell this to our loving woman MP who in turn will plead our tribulations to the parliament.
House owner three: What is wrong with the mayors? They decide for us where, which types of houses to build and what materials to use. Do we still have any independence left to ourselves? I will not be surprised if the next Imihogo paper suggests which type of woman my son should marry! As if asking me to buy a radio and television set in the current ones was not humiliating enough.
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