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February 9-16, 2015

Media Monitoring Report for Rwanda
Posted on February 16, 2015

Compiled by Berta Fürstová

Report content:

1. Kagame should candidate in 2017 – article praising Kagame’s work
2. FDLR’s ideology more dangerous than its military might, says minister Kabarebe
3. MONUSCO will not cooperate with FARDC due to its taint with human rights abuses
4. UNSC is a manager of international crimes and civil wars, says minister Mushikiwabo

1. Kagame should candidate in 2017 – article praising Kagame’s work
Private but pro-government newspapers

New Times, 9th February 2015

A great leader with a great track record - a recollection by Dr. Joseph Karemera

  • Although the author claims that this long article „is not blind praise“, it seems to be so. Dr. Karemera reminds Kagame’s credit for Rwanda’s progress – since his years in Uganda as a refugee, over the RPA’s victory in 1994 until the days as President of Rwanda.
  • The whole article is directed at possibility of Kagame’s candidacy for president in 2017. Dr. Karemera adds: „So is it time for H.E Paul Kagame to leave office come 2017? The answer is no. If we have to overcome the threats and vulnerabilities and strongly position our country in the current globalized environment, we need the continued visionary leadership of President Kagame.

(Dr. Karemera is a founding officer of the RPF and former Rwanda’s Minister of Health).

2. FDLR‘s ideology more dangerous than its military might, says minister Kabarebe
Private but pro-government newspapers

New Times, 11th February 2015

"FDLR ideology undermines regional stability - Kabarebe" by Athan Tashobya

  • The Minister for Defence, James Kabarebe, has told Members of Parliament that one of the major threats posed by the FDLR is the spreading of genocide ideology. "FDLR is not a threat to Rwanda in terms of military might and capacity. However, the assessment we have is that their tactic of disseminating genocide ideology among Rwandans could be a major security threat, not only to Rwanda but to the entire region," Kabarebe said.
  • The failure by FDLR to launch a conventional military campaign has rather made them resort to terrorist acts as well as spreading genocide ideology, which does not need powerful armory and large number of fighters. Also the political system in Rwanda which has allowed most of the militia men to rather return home has further weakened the terrorist group.
  • Kabarebe reminded that several grenade attacks across the country last year killed at least 20 people and injured 460 others. He pointed out that the FDLR and their partners that include the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) are responsible for the 36 grenade attacks between December 2009 and January 2014. "It is possible that this terror tactic could be an idea owned by RNC, using FDLR to execute the mission," he added.
  • Kabarebe blamed DR Congo for harbouring FDLR for the past 20 years. "It is as if DR Congo is not concerned with what would undermine Rwanda's security," he told the MPs.
  • While various international actors, including the UN, gave the FDLR up to January 2, to voluntarily disarm or face military action, nothing has been done so far. "They (the international community) have given strong statements regarding launching military action against FDLR but they have not done it. I do not think they will do it, because they do not see FDLR as a threat to them," Minister Kabarebe said.
3. MONUSCO will not cooperate with FARDC due to its taint with human rights abuses
Private but pro-government newspapers

New Times, 13th February 2015

"Deceit, moral posturing explain UN inaction against FDLR" by Joseph Rwagatare

  • According to Rwagatare, MONUSCO is withdrawing its backing for joint planned offensive with FARDC aganist FDLR because the UN will not back the Congolese army led by generals tainted with human rights abuses.
  • However, Rwagatare does not believe that any planned preparations for the offensive by UN has ever been made. In his opinion, this serves as another excuse for its inaction and also the timing is dubious. He wonders that the discovery came after a 20-years cooperation and did not stop them from mounting joint operations against the M23 rebels, for example.
  • Rwagatare added: „The fact is that even if the Congolese army was made up of saints and commanded by angels, the UN would not go after FDLR as they are morally and legally bound to do. They would still find an excuse not to act… The United Nations is actually preparing us to accept that there will be no offensive against the FDLR with or without UN participation.“
  • Rwagatare also asks why it is not possible to cope with the FDLR in the same way as with M23.
4. UNSC is a manager of international crimes and civil wars, says minister Mushikiwabo
Private but pro-government newspapers

New Times, 13th February 2015

"Mushikiwabo blames FDLR statemate on 'cheap politics" by Athan Tashobya

  • Foreign Affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo has told MPs that "cheap politicking" by some international actors was the reason for delayed military action against the FDLR. She blamed the inaction on a cabal of politicians at the international level, whom she said had tried to undermine Rwanda's development but after failing, resorted to using militia groups like FDLR to remain relevant.
  • Mushikiwabo said that FDLR had been turned into an instrument of hate towards Rwanda, used by every person who would wish to do wrong to the country, including Rwanda National Congress (RNC).
  • Rwandan media quoted an UN official as saying that Monusco was not ready to work with the Congolese forces to launch an offensive against FDLR because they would not work with two army generals who are part of the operation and are linked to human rights violations.
  • This followed a decision by Kinshasa to appoint Gen. Bruno Mandevu to head the FARDC operation against the FDLR and Gen. Fall Sikabwe as commander of the 34th military region, largely covering eastern DR Congo's vast North Kivu Province where the offensive would happen.
  • She added that such political games hindered the UNSC from being preventers, but rather managers of international crimes and civil wars. "Genocide ideology is cheap politics; it should not surprise us that some of these are Rwandans even though there could be some few individual politicians from the international community.“
  • "Whoever lacks credentials and the hard work it takes to be part of the Rwandan politics, they revert to using genocide ideology, because it is the easiest, and the most sensitive part of the history. This is much more of petty politics than anything else," said Mushikiwabo.
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