The major news of the week was the arrest in Germany of the Director of State protocol Rose Kabuye last Sunday. She was arrested by German police enforcing the indictment of nine Rwanda military officials on allegations that they participated in the shooting down of Juvenal Habyarimana’s Falcon aircraft in 1994.

Following her arrest, government officials addressed a press conference protesting the violation of Rwanda’s sovereignty by arresting an official on a presidential assignment.

Later, tens of thousands, of Rwandan’s demonstrated in the city center and at the German embassy protesting the arrest and also showing solidarity for Kabuye.

Senator Aloysia Inyumba, a long time colleague of Kabuye summed up the event in clear terms.

She was quoted saying: "Rose is a hero and a liberator for this country. So this is unfair. Again this does not end on an individual Rose Kabuye but it is about Rwanda as  country.”

Solidarity

President Paul Kagame, Tuesday, visited the detained protocol chief in prison later addressing a press conference. He clarified that Kabuye was arrested while on state duty and not on private business as had earlier been reported.

Ironically, her arrest happened a few days after a German court had released Callixte Mbarushimana the Secretary General of the terrorist group the Forces for the Democratic Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

At the same time, Ignace Murwanashyaka the self proclaimed head of the FDLR remains a free man in Germany. This is rather telling.

Mucyo commission

The government, it was reported, Wednesday, is ready to indict 23 senior French officials of the 33 that were named in the Mucyo commission report as having been directly involved in the 1994 Tutsi Genocide.

The report was made public last August. However, it is apparent that the French authorities will not honour the indictments given the fact that they have never bothered to arrest the numerous Genocide suspects that are wanted for trial both by the Arusha based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and in Rwanda.

Moreover, it seems that more than ever before, France is actively working to white-wash its role in the Tutsi Genocide and would not do something that would not work to reinforce their denial.

Bruguire’s witness

It was reported Thursday that key Bruguire witness Abdul Joshua Ruzibiza, a man that was used by Jean Louis Bruguire to build a case against senior government officials had retracted his testimony.

Ruzibiza was quoted telling the Radio station Contact FM, that the whole case was a fabrication orchestrated by him together with French officials and the FDLR to discredit the Rwandan government. 

He also revealed that his meeting with Bruguire was arranged by members of the FDLR through the French embassy in Kampala.

These revelations according to observers further expose the political machinations of the French authorities in an effort to bring down the popular elected government of Rwanda, by abusing the principle of universal jurisdiction.

Angola and DR Congo

Angola finally came clean this week and said that it will be sending troops to eastern DR Congo to prop up the beleaguered Congolese armed forces (FARDC), who have been staring defeat in the face since forces loyal to General Laurent Nkunda went on an offensive a couple of weeks ago.

However United Nations officials had already said that Angolan troops had been sighted in eastern DR Congo fighting alongside the FARDC and the FDLR.

Kagame wins award

President Kagame this week, addressed the 2008 International Telecommunications Union council session in Switzerland. He noted that investment in the ICT sector continues to improve on the African continent.

The President was also presented with an award at the 2008 ITU council High level segment on Wednesday in recognition of his support for ICT development in Rwanda.

Together with President Blaise Compoare of Burkina Faso, Kagame received the "Committed to connecting the World Award.”

Also in the news was former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s visit to the country. Blair, a voluntary advisor to President Kagame opened a new juice factory this week.

Ends