MPs hail government’s handling of DRC crisis

Lawmakers have commended the government, especially the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, for her efforts in defending the country in the wake of what they described as false allegations that Rwanda is backing the M23 rebels fighting in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).MP Gédéon Kayinamura, the Chairperson of the standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, drew applause when he said he was proud of the minister’s work in explaining Rwanda’s position on the conflict in eastern DRC. “It is our pride because she properly explains our problem and it is understood. I could begin from the rebuttal that was presented to the UN Security Council,” Kayinamura said.The remarks were made yesterday at the opening of a week-long dialogue and twin celebrations of the International Day of Democracy (IDD) and the International Day of Peace, at Parliamentary Buildings, where the minister briefed the lawmakers on the security situation in the Great Lakes region.Mushikiwabo reiterated the government’s confidence in helping resolve the current crisis in DRC “if all the actors involved–beginning with the decision makers in Kinshasa – do everything they have to do”.MP Jean Baptiste Rucibigango raised concerns over the plight of Kinyarwanda speaking Congolese, while Senator Joseph Karemera, implored the House to fully back the Executive, in condemning fictitious reports by Human Rights Watch and the UN Group of Experts against Rwanda. “I also request our Parliament to condemn the improper conduct of Congolese, especially in Europe, who have failed to fight their own war back home but instead resort to abuse peaceful Rwandans. We should condemn them and inform them that our lack of retaliation is not because we fear them, but because we know it would be shameful to do so,” he said. MP Constance Mukayuhi Rwaka, criticised donors’ move to suspend aid to Rwanda over false reports. She stated it was contrary to agreed principles of international agreements such as the Paris Declaration as well as the Accra Agenda for Action and the recent Busan Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. “We were shocked when we heard the news [aid suspension]. What surprised us most is that we as the parliament, represent the interests of our people, control government spending, and meet twice every year with these partners on all aid issues, but we were not informed at all,” Mukayuhi said.Mushikiwabo assured the lawmakers that there was progress in resolving the crisis, mostly on the regional level. She also told legislators that regional players will be participating in a mini-summit on eastern DRC, called by the UN Secretary General on the margins of the General Assembly on September 27.Mushikiwabo reiterated that when seeking solutions to the eastern DRC problem, the country keeps in mind that the involvement of partners who are far from where issues are taking place is not the best way to go. The minister was clear that the support solicited from partners beyond the immediate region, at the level of the AU, the UN, and any others that would be able to contribute to the regional solution is welcome, but what was more appropriate was a regional solution. “We do prefer this regional solution, if for nothing else, because consequences, good or bad, will have a direct impact on our own country, and so, we remain as a neighbour, as a country with a history of the DRC, very strongly alongside the region.”The minister said the latest crisis has not been easy to handle because it finds its roots, not in this current crisis “of this past April,” but there is a residual sense of insecurity and volatility in eastern DRC that is at the base of the latest crisis. Meanwhile, a mandate is being sought, at the level of the African Union, for an international neutral force that has been suggested as one of the ways to handle the military side of the conflict. Four countries of the ICGLR who are currently members of the peace and Security Council of the African Union have been tasked to work on a mandate for this force. The decision taken at the September 8 summit in Kampala, Uganda was to engage in political talks chaired President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, but at the same time, continue to work to operationalise this international force as an option if talks fail. The Heads of State will meet again in Kampala, on October 8, to evaluate progress on various decisions, particularly after the setting up the expanded JVM.

National

MPs hail government’s handling of DRC crisis