[AfricaWatch] Rwanda calls Congo 'crybaby' at U.N., Congo says Rwanda's 'arrogant' behavior must stop

 

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBREA0T1NS20140130?irpc=932

• SHARE THIS ARTICLE

• Email
• Facebook
• Twitter

By Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council stressed on Thursday that M23 rebels must be stopped from regrouping in Democratic Republic of Congo and expressed concern at Congolese soldiers aiding Rwandan Hutu militia, sparking a verbal clash between the countries' envoys.

Rwanda's U.N. ambassador, Eugene Gasana - a temporary member of the 15-member Security Council - accused Congo of "crying like small babies," while his Congolese counterpart, Ignace Gata Mavita wa Lufuta, said Rwanda's "arrogant behavior must stop."

Rwanda has repeatedly intervened in Congo, saying it had to hunt down Hutu militia, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which fled after Rwanda's 1994 genocide. Congo and Rwanda have fought two wars in two decades in eastern Congo.

The U.N. Security Council expressed its concerns about the violence in eastern Congo in a unanimously adopted resolution that renewed an arms embargo and targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on Democratic Republic of Congo.

The top U.N. official in Congo, Martin Kobler, has said there were credible reports that the M23 rebels appeared to be regrouping just two months after Congolese troops and U.N. peacekeepers defeated the Tutsi-led insurgency.

U.N. experts, who monitor violations of U.N. sanctions on Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo have long accused Rwanda of backing M23, which ended its 20-month rebellion in November, a claim that Kigali has fiercely rejected.

Rwanda and the U.N. experts have accused Congolese troops of collaborating with the FDLR, which includes Hutus who fled Rwanda after the genocide of 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutus. Kinshasa denies the claim.

"These guys (Congo), just every other day, coming and crying like small babies," Gasana told reporters after the council meeting. "Rwanda, it's a small country. Congo is rich. Congo has everything. How come Rwanda is always the scapegoat?"

Gata Mavita wa Lufuta told the Security Council: "We are a sovereign country and we must be respected as such and this arrogant behavior (by Rwanda) must stop."

REPORTS OF CONGOLESE ARMY COLLABORATION

There was one thing both ambassadors agreed on: the U.N. Security Council was not the appropriate venue for their verbal spat.

Millions of people have died from violence, disease and hunger in Congo since the 1990s as armed groups have fought for control of the country's vast deposits of gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt and uranium.

The Security Council resolution noted "with deep concern reports indicating FARDC (Congolese army) collaboration with the FDLR at a local level, recalling that the FDLR is a group under U.N. sanctions whose leaders and members include perpetrators of the 1994 genocide."

It stressed the importance of "permanently addressing this threat."

A 20,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo received a boost last year with the unprecedented deployments of unarmed surveillance drones and an Intervention Brigade of 3,000 troops to help Congolese forces hunt down rebel groups.

After the military defeat of M23, the peacekeepers and the Congolese army have turned their attention to tackling the FDLR and the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan Islamist group.

The resolution asked states neighboring Congo to "urgently address the situation of former M23 combatants located in their territories, and stresses the importance of ensuring that the M23 does not regroup and resume military activities."

It also called upon countries in the region to take steps to ensure there is no support in or from their territories for armed groups in eastern Congo. U.N. experts have also accused Uganda of aiding Congolese rebels, which Kampala has denied.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Leslie Adler)

__._,_.___

Reply via web post

Reply to sender

Reply to group

Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

• New Members 7
• New Photos 1

Visit Your Group

----------------------------------------------------------
The Voice of the Poor, the Weak and Powerless.
More News: http://africawatcher.blogspot.co.uk/
-----------------------------------------------------------
Post message:  AfricaWatch@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: AfricaWatch-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: AfricaWatch-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: AfricaWatch-owner@yahoogroups.com
-----------------------------

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

.

__,_._,___

Rwanda calls Congo 'crybaby' at U.N., Congo says Rwanda's 'arrogant' behavior must stop

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBREA0T1NS20140130?irpc=932

Rwanda calls Congo 'crybaby' at U.N., Congo says Rwanda 'arrogant'

By Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS | Thu Jan 30, 2014 2:09pm EST

• SHARE THIS ARTICLE

• Email
• Facebook
• Twitter

By Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council stressed on Thursday that M23 rebels must be stopped from regrouping in Democratic Republic of Congo and expressed concern at Congolese soldiers aiding Rwandan Hutu militia, sparking a verbal clash between the countries' envoys.

Rwanda's U.N. ambassador, Eugene Gasana - a temporary member of the 15-member Security Council - accused Congo of "crying like small babies," while his Congolese counterpart, Ignace Gata Mavita wa Lufuta, said Rwanda's "arrogant behavior must stop."

Rwanda has repeatedly intervened in Congo, saying it had to hunt down Hutu militia, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which fled after Rwanda's 1994 genocide. Congo and Rwanda have fought two wars in two decades in eastern Congo.

The U.N. Security Council expressed its concerns about the violence in eastern Congo in a unanimously adopted resolution that renewed an arms embargo and targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on Democratic Republic of Congo.

The top U.N. official in Congo, Martin Kobler, has said there were credible reports that the M23 rebels appeared to be regrouping just two months after Congolese troops and U.N. peacekeepers defeated the Tutsi-led insurgency.

U.N. experts, who monitor violations of U.N. sanctions on Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo have long accused Rwanda of backing M23, which ended its 20-month rebellion in November, a claim that Kigali has fiercely rejected.

Rwanda and the U.N. experts have accused Congolese troops of collaborating with the FDLR, which includes Hutus who fled Rwanda after the genocide of 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutus. Kinshasa denies the claim.

"These guys (Congo), just every other day, coming and crying like small babies," Gasana told reporters after the council meeting. "Rwanda, it's a small country. Congo is rich. Congo has everything. How come Rwanda is always the scapegoat?"

Gata Mavita wa Lufuta told the Security Council: "We are a sovereign country and we must be respected as such and this arrogant behavior (by Rwanda) must stop."

REPORTS OF CONGOLESE ARMY COLLABORATION

There was one thing both ambassadors agreed on: the U.N. Security Council was not the appropriate venue for their verbal spat.

Millions of people have died from violence, disease and hunger in Congo since the 1990s as armed groups have fought for control of the country's vast deposits of gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt and uranium.

The Security Council resolution noted "with deep concern reports indicating FARDC (Congolese army) collaboration with the FDLR at a local level, recalling that the FDLR is a group under U.N. sanctions whose leaders and members include perpetrators of the 1994 genocide."

It stressed the importance of "permanently addressing this threat."

A 20,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo received a boost last year with the unprecedented deployments of unarmed surveillance drones and an Intervention Brigade of 3,000 troops to help Congolese forces hunt down rebel groups.

After the military defeat of M23, the peacekeepers and the Congolese army have turned their attention to tackling the FDLR and the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan Islamist group.

The resolution asked states neighboring Congo to "urgently address the situation of former M23 combatants located in their territories, and stresses the importance of ensuring that the M23 does not regroup and resume military activities."

It also called upon countries in the region to take steps to ensure there is no support in or from their territories for armed groups in eastern Congo. U.N. experts have also accused Uganda of aiding Congolese rebels, which Kampala has denied.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Lalji PfAL scholarships for graduate study at the London School of Economics and Political Science

Lalji PfAL scholarships for graduate study at the London School of Economics and Political Science.  Through the generous support of the Lalji family and the Programme for African Leadership (PfAL) Foundation, the London School of Economics and Political Science is delighted to announce that it is making available a significant scholarship fund to bright African students applying to the MSc Development Management or the MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies (IDHE)  starting in the academic year 2014/15.  A full scholarship will cover fees and living costs, but the value for each student will be assessed according to financial need.  As well as studying for a prestigious London School of Economics MSc programme, all Lalji PfAL Scholarship recipients will participate in an additional programme of workshops and seminars throughout the year. Successful candidates will also gain membership of the growing PfAL network of African leaders.   Eligibility In 2014/15, the scholarships are open to applicants from across sub-Saharan Africa.  A minimum of 15 places will be reserved for applicants from Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda.  Applicants who have not previously studied outside Africa are particularly encouraged to apply.   How to apply  Apply NOW! A fee waiver worth GBP£50 will be awarded to the first 50 successful Phase 1 applicants ONLY! In order to be eligible for one of these awards, you must first complete a PfAL Phase 1 application form.  If your initial application is approved then you will be invited to apply for one of the two selected MSc programmes (Phase 2) and complete a financial assessment form (Phase 3).

Click here for more information and to apply

[AfricaWatch] UN sanctions sparks row between DRC and Rwanda | eNCA

 

http://www.enca.com/africa/un-sanctions-sparks-row-between-drc-and-rwanda-0

UN sanctions sparks row between DRC and Rwanda

Africa

30 January 2014

Kigali's UN ambassador Eugene-Richard Gasana. The UN Security Council on Thursday renewed a sanctions regime against Democratic Republic of Congo in a vote that sparked a furious row between Congo and Rwanda. Picture: AFP

UNITED NATIONS, United States - The UN Security Council on Thursday renewed a sanctions regime against Democratic Republic of Congo in a vote that sparked a furious row between Congo and Rwanda.

The council backed a sanctions committee report which says the M23 rebel group is recruiting in Rwanda despite its military defeat and that its leaders are moving freely in Uganda.

Rwanda, as a temporary member of the 15-nation Security Council, voted for resolution 2136 but then lashed out at the sanctions report and DR Congo.

Kigali's UN ambassador Eugene-Richard Gasana called the sanctions committee report "baseless" and said his DR Congo counterpart was a "cry baby" always complaining to the council about Rwanda.

DR Congo's ambassador Ignace Gata Mativa said the sanctions experts had clearly shown "grave violations" by Rwanda and Uganda by aiding "destabilization" in eastern DR Congo.

"Such an attitude constitutes an act of aggression that the Security Council must record and condemn," Gata added.

"Dear friend, it is time to stop acting like a cry baby each time, each time to come here and hit out at Rwanda," Gasana responded.

M23 launched an uprising against the DR Congo government in 2012 and briefly occupied the key city of Goma before it was defeated by government forces late last year. It is one of a host of groups that have brought strife to eastern DR Congo over the past two decades.

UN experts have repeatedly said Rwanda and Uganda support the rebels. The two countries deny any role in the uprising.

Gasana repeated accusations that the experts are "unprofessional" and that their work threatens peace efforts.

The council resolution renewed the mandate of the experts and expressed "full support" for their work, however.

The council expressed "strong condemnation" of "internal or external support to armed groups active in the region, including through financial, logistical and military support." But it did not mention Rwanda or any alleged backing for M23.

The resolution did highlight "deep concern" over accusations in the sanctions report that DR Congo forces had been in "collaboration" with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which includes some fighters who took part in Rwanda's 1994 genocide.

The Security Council ordered that individuals and entities arming DR Congo groups "through illicit trade of natural resources, including gold or wildlife as well as wildlife products" should be included on the sanctions list.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said in a statement that the move was a "critical step" in the battle against elephant poaching and illicit ivory trading.

A resolution passed Tuesday starting a sanctions regime in neighbouring Central African Republic also said poachers linked to armed groups should be targeted.

WWF said that more than 20,000 elephants are killed each year for their tusks, many of them in Central Africa conflict zones.

-AFP

__._,_.___

Reply via web post

Reply to sender

Reply to group

Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

• New Members 7
• New Photos 1

Visit Your Group

----------------------------------------------------------
The Voice of the Poor, the Weak and Powerless.
More News: http://africawatcher.blogspot.co.uk/
-----------------------------------------------------------
Post message:  AfricaWatch@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: AfricaWatch-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: AfricaWatch-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: AfricaWatch-owner@yahoogroups.com
-----------------------------

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

.

__,_._,___

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25930720

• News
• Sport
• Weather
• Shop
• Capital
• More

 Sections

Paul Kagame ex-guard Joel Mutabazi rejects Rwanda trial

28 January 2014 Last updated at 16:27

Joel Mutabazi fled to Uganda in 2011 and says he was illegally extradited

One of the Rwandan president's former bodyguards, Joel Mutabazi, is refusing to be tried for alleged terrorism.

He told the court he has no faith in Rwanda's justice and that he had been illegally extradited from Uganda.

Mr Mutabazi and 15 others are accused of plotting attacks and could face life sentences. Most deny the charges.

Meanwhile, UN special rapporteur Maina Kiai told the BBC that most politicians who are openly critical of the government end up in legal trouble.

Paul Kagame's government has denied persecuting its opponents.

But earlier this year, following the apparent murder of a prominent dissident in South Africa, the president warned. "There are consequences for betraying your country."

Patrick Karegeya was found dead in his hotel room earlier this month

Mr Mutabazi is facing eight charges including terrorism, formation of an armed group, murder and illegal possession of firearms.

Among the other accused are several members of the opposition Rwandan National Congress (RNC) and eight students.

The BBC's Prudent Nsengiyumva in Kigali says many in Rwanda feel this is a political trial, even though it is not clear whether Mr Mutabazi himself is linked to an opposition party.

Mr Mutabazi fled to Uganda in 2011, claiming his life was in danger in Rwanda, but the Ugandan authorities transferred him back to Kigali at the end of last year.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has condemned Kampala's decision to extradite him as a "clear violation of the asylum principle".

Appearing in court, he pleaded not guilty and said he would not take part in the trial.

''I'm not ready to give an explanation to the court on the charges against me because I'm not convinced of the legality of my transfer to Rwanda," he told the judges.

"I was a refugee. I don't have faith in Rwanda's justice."

One of the founders of the RNC, Patrick Karegeya, was found dead in his Johannesburg hotel room earlier this month.

His supporters say he was killed by government agents - charges denied by Kigali.

On Monday, the UN special rapporteur to Rwanda said the prosecution of politicians who disagreed with Mr Kagame's "consensus politics" sent a "chilling and unacceptable message that peaceful public disagreement with the government is equivalent to criminality".

He noted that they had been charged with links to violence or corruption, reports the Reuters news agency.

Mr Kiai, speaking after a week-long visit to Rwanda, told the BBC's Newsday programme that he had met one young man who had been jailed for six years after discussing politics in a bar.

He said he had raised the case, and others, with the government.

Mr Kagame and his allies say that after the 1994 genocide, Rwanda needs "consensus politics" to prevent a return to ethnic conflict.