President Paul Kagame yesterday called for respect and tolerance for human diversity in light of continued terrorist attacks around the world.

The President was addressing his first news conference of the New Year at Village Urugwiro, Kigali.

President Kagame's Press Conference (January 15, Village Urugwiro). Source: YouTube/PresidentKagame

He said the recent deadly attacks on a French publication and the continued brutality by Boko Haram terrorist group in Nigeria and neighbouring countries were a stark reminder of the vulnerability of humanity to terror acts.

However, he condemned the double standards that have often characterised international reactions to acts of terror, citing the indifference and unacceptable insinuations with which the international community has responded to terror attacks in countries like Rwanda.

"In Rwanda, throwing grenades at citizens is seen as an expression of political grievances.

Elsewhere, it is seen as an outrage,” the President said referring to a series of grenade attacks linked to FDLR militia and dissidents who are based in South Africa.

Speaking about the attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine, in which 12 people, including journalists and cartoonists were killed, the President also urged respect and tolerance with regard to religion.

While condemning the Islamist attackers of the French magazine, he also questioned the rationale of repetitively publishing offensive cartoons of Prophet Mohammed under the pretext of free speech, especially when everyone knows that it’s likely to enrage billions of Muslim faithful around the world and used by terrorists as justification for violence.

The world is stuck between two extremes; the diehards of freedom of press and the diehards of religious beliefs, which calls for common sense to prevail to create harmony, he said.

"We need to find a common way of managing these extreme situations”.

Standing by values

Meanwhile, Kagame told reporters that Kigali will continue to stand by its values at whatever cost.

Referring to the Kinyarwanda proverb that says that truth will pass through fire and get out of it intact, Kagame said Rwanda has often been vindicated on so many issues despite initial opposition by some.

"Rwanda went through the fire. We are what you see, and what we tell you is what we mean.

The way we feel and think we should be doing something is the way we put it to you,” Kagame said in reference to a time of accusations by the international community against Rwanda.

He added: "We have been tried, tested, insulted about where we are coming from and where we are going, the means and process we went through; but the truth about us has remained.”

He was responding to a question about the perceived change in attitude and support of Rwanda by the international community during this past year.

"Hopefully, our friends have gone through a period of understanding us and understanding the situation of Rwanda and this probably helps to inform their attitude towards us,” he said.

‘Not confident on Monusco’

On whether he was optimistic Monusco would finally address the problem of FDLR militia, Kagame said he was not "too confident” based on past experiences, but added that he was watching to see whether those concerned would follow through on their recent promises.

"What has been playing out relating to FDLR has not been helpful at all…different groups (operating in DR Congo) are attacked and confronted by the same international community on short notice. You attack them without a warning, you do not have to first hold a meeting but when it comes to FDLR, you hear all sorts of excuses,” he said.

The FDLR, whose leadership is mainly composed of perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi, had been given until January 2 to voluntarily disarm or face military action, but there has been no action two weeks after the deadline.

The offensive is expected to be carried out by the Force Intervention Brigade of the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Congo (Monusco), but shortly after the FDLR disarmament deadline expired, the UN troops instead went after Burundian rebels, the National Liberation Force (FNL), also based in Eastern DR Congo.

Kagame said that as Head of State, he would ensure Rwandans are protected from any form of insecurity imported from across border.

"We don’t have a say over what happens on the other side of the border. Those who have the authority, the international community, it has been in their hands for a long time and they will decide what to do.”

"For us as Rwanda, we shall continue building our capacity to ensure that irrespective of what happens or doesn’t happen on the other side of the border, it does not spill over to cause insecurity on our territory,” he said.

Kagame also briefly addressed the issue of recent resignations and arrests of district mayors, which he linked to accountability and added that Rwandans were now empowered enough to demand results from their leaders.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw