Conflicts in Great Lakes region: Odds still stand

I resent the perception that security and human rights, are for the righteous few. Considering the in security and peace within Sub-Saharan region, the food for thought would be on whether the peace deals signed would stop wars ravaging this region. From the wars and crises in eastern DR Congo, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Southern Sudan’s Darfur region, and Uganda’s very own, Joseph Kony led Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA); security is only skittering away under uncertainties. This in turn affects the neighbouring regions which either retaliate or seek peace through signing agreements. For some countries like the eastern DR Congo, peace deals are working to their advantage. For instance the Tripartite Plus Agreement, which was signed between Rwanda and the DR Congo, is a clear step to stop the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebels from operating and killing innocent civilians. The FDLR, are the remnant Interahamwe, who were aided to escaped into DR Congo from Rwanda in 1994, after killing an estimated one million Rwandans. Today they are the root cause of the unrest in the eastern DR Congo. In order to resolve these long standing negative forces, inline with the Tripartite Plus Agreement, Rwanda provided DR Congo with a list of 6,945 names of people responsible for the 1994 Genocide. Already the recent comments by the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, that his country was analysing the list of suspects, are impressive. Also comments from Rwanda’s head of the National Public Prosecutions Authority (NPPA), Martin Ngoga, that the developments in the bilateral talks show optimism, that, the two countries are fast tracking towards stabilising the regions’ peace and will surely pay off. The Government of Rwanda in the Tripartite Plus Agreement, agreed to support returnees and reintegrate former members of armed groups. The former are already enjoying their rights and obligations as Rwandan citizens, while the latter are successfully reintegrating in society. Still, consolidating peace and security is an important challenge as stated in the Joint Governance Assessment report that was adopted by the Cabinet in September last year. Through a combination of measures, stability and security was achieved. This was by adequately resourcing security services combined with effective democratic oversight, implementing adequate and well-defined laws against incitement to hatred and violence, effective mechanisms to resolve conflicts in society, and a broad set of programmes to encourage the rule of law, justice, reconciliation and unity. So far, current indicators show that in 2008, the crime rate in Rwanda has reduced by 30 percent. This is mainly attributed to the community policing programme that was approved last year as a way of cutting down violence related crimes. Fighting crime by tackling people mindsets to change for the better is a tough but strategic and a productive method that was undertaken. This was only emphasised by a statement last week, from Chief Supt. Emmanuel Butera, also the Director of Community policing in the National Police Force, that the improved working relationship between the department of community policing and residents is cemented by the five man community policing teams in every village. The teams that monitor and scrutinise daily operations in their respective areas lay a great role in cutting down crime rates.Together with the over 12,000 local Gacaca courts that try suspects of the 1994 atrocities, the rule of law and justice is implemented. As a way of building the peace process, different ministries are imparting skills in conflict resolution and management, basic national and personal security and explaining the role of the international community in the 1994 Tutsi Genocide. Youth and children being the future leaders of the country, are considered as one of the most important resources in Rwanda since they are in position to find solutions to lasting peace and development. However, challenges of the future generation lie in their self-confidence as a tool to promoting the love for their country by understanding government’s goals and possible obstacles that may come along. nanyango@yahoo.com