Accusation of business interests in DRC simplistic – Kagame

President Paul Kagame has defended Rwandan companies that might be having business interests in the Congo, wondering what rights other commercial entities from as far as the Americas and China that transact business there, could be having more than the Rwandans.He said this during an interview with TIME, a US magazine, which was published yesterday.The President noted that those accusing Rwandans of having such interests – which he said he did not know about – should as well question other countries across the world that have the same interests in DRC.“What right do other companies from China, America and wherever have to be in Congo that companies from Rwanda do not have? There are companies there from all over the world. We are probably the first country in the world to be accused of being guilty of having an economic interest somewhere,” he said in the lengthy interview.Kagame said Rwanda and the DRC have a long shared history that goes far beyond trade between their citizens. He said both countries have blood relationship.“To say this is all about Rwanda’s business interests (in DRC) is very simplistic. People who go to do business in Congo do not have to ask me, just as people who come from Congo do not have to ask me,” he said.He was responding to a question about the allegations that Rwanda has business interests in the Congo, a claim that has largely influenced perception that Kigali is involved in the unrest in its neighbouring country.Kagame also said that many Congolese have investments and property in Rwanda simply because the country is safe, as opposed to allegations that such propertys is owned by perceived Kinshasa opponents.“I do know that there are ministers in Kabila’s government who also have houses here. Congolese invest here because it is safe. We have a lot of foreigners coming here and building houses.”Rwanda has denied links with the M23 rebellion, which broke out in April after hundreds of soldiers mutinied protesting what they called poor conditions and Kinshasa’s disregard of a 2009 peace deal under which they had been integrated into the national army.

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Accusation of business interests in DRC simplistic – Kagame