EDITOR,

I have noted with concern that human rights bodies and the UN are determined to ensure that they paint a grave  picture of Rwanda. As your government spokesperson said, the picture painted of Rwanda is very slanted and these human rights bodies and the media have exhibited sinister interest in Rwanda.

In my opinion the UN’s motives for trying to tar Rwanda are less than honest given the fact that Rwanda put them to shame during the joint mission that restored some peace and stability in Eastern DRC and voluntarily repatriated hundreds of Rwandans to safety back home.

Luckily, having lived in Rwanda, I know that Rwandans know more than anyone that the root cause of the Genocide was international interference that divided them by ethnicity and proceeded to set them against each other. This seems to be what is happening once again only this time it’s not colonialists but rather its human rights organizations.

It’s therefore, upon Rwandans to decide on how they will shape their future. It’s their choice how much attention they will give such reports.

Rwanda must do what it knows to be in the best interest of its citizens and the country as a whole. We should not shape our future and our decisions based on partisan organizations such as the UN, human right bodies and the media. We should focus on strengthening our institutions that have our best interests at heart including the AU, the EAC and other regional bodies. We are learning more and more in Africa that we can only count on ourselves.

Gloria Mutoni