Highlights:
- British government does not want to take any chances with Kagame given his proven recklessness and reputation in killing opponents on foreign soil; especially in light of UK preparations for the Olympics;
- British government has been working closely its South African counterpart, given the attempted assassination of former Rwandan army chief of staff exiled in South Africa during Soccer World Cup in 2010;
- General Kagame and his foiled hit squads in UK have raised keen interest internationally and regionally in the Dictator’s policies of elimination and massive abuse of human rights including in;
- United States,
- South Africa, DRC and Angola are following closely the events in the UK – SA in particular because the case against the Rwandan Dictator for attempted assassination of Kayumba Nyamwasa is still unfolding;
- Above all, which is what AfricanDictator is concentrating on this update, is the mounting pressure of the UK government to review its relationship with the Rwandan dictator.
- Dictator Kagame is an unfamiliar position right now – on flat foot and on the defensive – its paranoia is becoming a rope for the tyrant to politically hang himself;
- Rwandan community in UK has put a fight – the three Rwandans who appeared on BBC Newsnight are brave indeed because the mad dictator will certainly go after their relatives back home, which is the trademark of Kagame’s brutality.
African Dictator can reveal that the British Government faces increasing pressure to review its close relationship with Rwanda, following the revelation of hit squads sent by the Kigali dictator to harm members of the Rwandan Diaspora in UK. British political establishment and the media have not only expressed their dismay, but have called for greater scrutiny of Rwanda’s machinations in UK.
The regime in Kigali is flatfooted and defensive. The usual aggressive rhetoric against any criticism has given to more toned down responses such as the following statements from the dictatorship’s foreign minister Louise Mushikiwabo: “There are any numbers of people in the UK who don’t like this Government, it is their prerogative, they don’t need to like President Kagame”. Blah blah blah.
Slowly but surely, the Kagame dictatorship is being isolated everywhere
Here are the highlights of British demands for review of UK’s relationship with the Rwandan dictator:
Hon Douglas Alexander, Shadow Foreign Secretary, Labor: “Clearly such a suggestion of foreign nationals sanctioning violence on the streets of London is a very serious matter. The Government should ensure that there is a full investigation and make public its findings.”
Sir Menzies Campbell, former Liberal Democrat leader: “The Rwandan High Commissioner should be told in the strongest possible terms that conduct of the kind threatened will simply not be tolerated.”
Hon Eric Joyce, chairman of the All-Parliamentary Group on the Great Lakes Region of Africa (APPG): “I have a lot respect for what President Kagame has done, but the Rwandan government has a reputation for not brooking any opposition, and I urged ministers to regard it as a ‘priority’ to investigate the allegations.”
Hon Philip Davies, a Tory member of the parliamentary committee on racial and religious hatred: “The Government should make quite clear that any assassination attempt would be totally unacceptable and would have repercussions. I would expect the Government to explain that British aid is not given unconditionally”.
Hon Nicola Blackwood, a Tory member of the APPG: “Rwanda has made such impressive strides in so many areas of development but political freedom is important too, and if these claims are true they are very worrying.”
Mr. Tim Hitchens, the Foreign Office’s Director for Africa hauled Ernest Rwamucyo, the Rwandan High Commissioner, and the notorious James Uwizeye, formally expelled from Uganda. He set parameters for “acceptable behaviour” of foreign embassy staff. “We take every opportunity to raise with the Rwandan government our concerns over political space, media freedom and extra-judicial killings.” he added.
Meanwhile the UK-based papers have also covered the story widely. Here are the highlights:
The Times: “The desperate desire for an aid success story has ensured that for too long, too many people who should know better have ignored repression in Rwanda. We can ignore it no longer. Can we really have a situation in which we hand over £83 million a year to a regime that in return, according to Scotland Yard, sends hit squads to assassinate Rwandans living in London?”
The Independent: “Western governments have praised Kagame for his efforts in transforming Rwanda since the 1994 genocide, with Britain committing £83m a year until 2015 to help rebuild the country. But political violence and suppression in Rwanda have shaken faith in Kagame.”
The Guardian: “No authoritarian leader cedes power easily, or turns it over to bodies he cannot control. This is especially true of leaders who come to power by guerrilla war, as Kagame did. Guerrilla leaders win wars by being paranoid and ruthless. Once they take power, they are expected to abandon those qualities and embrace opposite ones: tolerance, compromise and humility. Almost none manages to do so. Kagame has proven himself to be a visionary figure in some ways, so there seemed hope that he would be an exception. Events of recent weeks suggest otherwise.”
Brave Rwandan Diaspora in UK
The Rwandan Diaspora in UK has also put up a tough fight against the Rwandan dictator. The three Rwandans who appeared on a live News night interview are very brave and should be congratulated. Those familiar with the extremism of dictator Kagame, when you cross him, he goes after everything associated with you, including your family and friends. We can only hope that the relatives of the people who appeared on the show are well prepared for the ugliness on their way from Kagame goons.
Pen mightier than sword?
Meanwhile, ordinary Rwandans continue to share their frustrations with the Rwandan dictator through this platform and others like it. Keep it up fellow pen fighters – this is the
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