The Rwanda Minister of foreign Affairs and Cooperation H.E. Louise Mushikiwabo, has quashed the Human Rights Watch (HRW) for creating a rumour accusing Rwanda of involvement in the Easten DRC Crisis and passing on the rumour but also quoting HRW.
“Its ricdiculous, ” she said.
Mushikiwabo was responding to Press Questions at the United Nations headqarters in New York. “I am in New York for UN business and bilateral discusssions in washington aswell.”
“Its important for those of us who want peace. Not to allow a war of words that is starting to harm innocent people in the region.”
Mushikiwabo is accompanied by H.E. Eugène-Richard Gasana, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the UN; and Major Patrick Karuretwa, Security Adviser to the President.
The minister urged whoever cares about the great lakes region to calm down, look at facts and context of DRCongo.
She noted that these multiple reports that keep croping up, some of which have been retracted, have a dangerous impact on lives of people in DRC and Rwanda Citizens in the region. That is extremely dangerous.
“I want to clear the air about some of the recent security situation in Eastern DRC . There seems to be quite a flarey of mis information and disinformation.” She added.
Rwanda has been a subject of disingenious accusations related to a detoriorating security situation in DRC. This is not the first time Rwanda has been a scapegoat to problems in the region.
Responding to a DRC letter recently sent to the United Nations , Mushikiwabo said, “the letter was actually sent while I was on a plane back to Kigali after the meeting with DRC authorities on the situation in Eastern DRCongo.”
“We(Rwanda) are aware that DRC sent a letter to UN secutity council. We regrete this. Rwanda and DRC have been engaged in discussions and we will continue to meet . I was in DRC for talks on the Joint Verification Mechanism and operations against FDLR- rebels on the congolese side.”
Minister mushikiwabo noted that given the gravity of the violence and fear about potential escalations, Rwanda has engaged different actors in the region and authorities in DRC that the situation doesn’t get aggravated.
“Whatever happens, violence should end quickly in DRC. Refugees should be allowed to return home. There has been so much energy on rumours and allegations. We have seen violence against Rwandan citizens in DRC. Eleven young Rwandan men were captured in DRC near their own home in Rubavu on the Rwandan side, beaten and tortured.”
She said that government of Rwanda was concerned as a with bigorty and rhetoric on a number of websites, “ Those who care to findout out will find out that even with some media close to DRC, this rhetoric is remniscent of period prior and during the Rwandan to genocide.”
Some newspapers continue to ask all congolese worlwide to strike Rwandans .
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