From Afromaerica.net
On Tuesday August 28, 2012 afternoon, the delegation of the Rwandan
Government was in front of the UN Security Council in New York. The
Rwandan delegation composed of four representatives was led by Rwandan
Foreign Affairs Minister and Government spokeswoman Ms. Louise
Mushikiwabo and included the Security Adviser of Rwandan President Paul
Kagame, Maj Patrick Karuretwa. The mission of the delegation was to
provide a rebuttal on allegations contained
in UN Experts’ report accusing Rwanda Government and Defense Forces of
proving military support, training, and funding to the Congolese M23
rebels.
According to sources at the United Nations, the Rwandan argumentation
centered around personal attacks on the UN Group Experts head, Steve
Hege. The almost one hour presentation tried to make the Rwandan case by
questioning the statements by the experts regarding a certain Rwandan
military officer Janvier Saddat, 75 mm artillery owned by M23 rebels,
and the graves of Rwandan soldiers killed in the DRC while supporting
M23 rebels.
Rwandan Government argued that Janvier Saddat is not a Rwandan officer,
but rather an ex-CNDP integrated within FARDC and that the 75 mm
artillery came from ex-CNDP. Ex-CNDP were also supported, funded and
trained by Rwandan Defense Forces.
Rwandan delegation also defended General Jack Nziza, the top Rwandan
military intelligence head accused of coordinating M23 rebels’
operations. Rwandan delegation to have a solid alibi for General Nziza.
The delegation said the allegations are a fabrication by Steve Hege and
accused the latter of being unsympathetic to and biased against the
Rwandan Government.
According to the same sources, the Rwandan Government attacks on Steve
Hege appeared rather a “poisoning the well” strategy aimed at avoiding
addressing the core findings by UN Experts.
The support of Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) to M23 rebels has been an
open secret and confirmed by a multitude of sources including the
Congolese local population, UN Mission in DRC MONUSCO, non government
organizations such as Human Rights Watch, DRC Government and other
international institutions and foreign governments (see our articles on
the subject, including here and here and here)
It is expected that the DRC Government delegation will also make its case, in support of the findings by the UN Experts on DRC.
©2012 AfroAmerica Network.
Africa Great Lakes Democracy Watch
Welcome to Africa Great Lakes Democracy Watch Blog. Our objective is to promote the institutions of democracy,social justice,Human Rights,Peace, Freedom of Expression, and Respect to humanity in Rwanda,Uganda,DR Congo, Burundi,Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya,Ethiopia, and Somalia. We strongly believe that Africa will develop if only our presidents stop being rulers of men and become leaders of citizens. We support Breaking the Silence Campaign for DR Congo since we believe the democracy in Rwanda means peace in DRC. Follow this link to learn more about the origin of the war in both Rwanda and DR Congo:http://www.rwandadocumentsproject.net/gsdl/cgi-bin/library
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