Agaciro Development Fund is the way to go

Editor, Allow me to use your esteemed newspaper to state the suspension of aid meant for Rwanda is a big lesson to Africa. As Africans, we need to put our heads together and address our challenges.

Friday, August 17, 2012
Rwandans contribute to One Dollar campaign. Home - grown initiatives such as the Agaciro Development support the country. The NewTimes / File.

Editor,Allow me to use your esteemed newspaper to state the suspension of aid meant for Rwanda is a big lesson to Africa. As Africans, we need to put our heads together and address our challenges.It was unfortunate that the suspension was done based on unfounded allegations against the country. I don’t see any reason why Rwanda, a nation that has been at the forefront of restoring peace in troubled areas can turn around and M23 rebels, who are fighting the neighbouring DRC government.It must be recalled that Genocide perpetrators have openly been operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 1995 and efforts to bring them to justice has not been fruitful because of reluctance on the side the World police.If the concern is regional stability, international community should rather re-define MONUSCO’s mandate and instruct it to disassociate itself from FDLR. Instead of ensuring security by arresting FDLR and other militias, MONUSCO is reportedly involved in plundering DRC resources and trading with the same militias it is supposed to disarm!Let us work hard for the continent because as long as developed countries still wave their cheque books over our heads, we can never be equal or be respected.Rwanda is indeed neither the cause nor the enabler of instability in the region but rather catalyst for regional integration and is geared towards sustainable peace and stability through peace keeping operations in many countries such as Sudan, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Haiti.It is, therefore, an opportunity to promote home-grown solutions such as the Agaciro Development Fund and other initiatives, including the creation of strong indigenous projects, which are rooted in our socio-cultural values.Ernest MulisaSweden