17 – 23 August 2015
Media Monitoring Report for Rwanda (17 – 23 August 2015)
Posted on September 2, 2015
Compiled by Berta Fürstová
Report content
1. Constitution amendment: Constitutional Commission to be appointed by the President
Private but pro-government newspapers
New Times, 21st August 2015
- The Lower House passed a draft Bill establishing an independent commission that will analyse the review of the 2003 Constitution.
- The commission will operate under the Parliament and have an initial mandate of four months, which may be renewed. It will comprise of seven people, with extensive background in constitutional law. The commissioners are supposed to be appointed by the President.
- Senator Tito Rutaremara said that the commissioners would need to “clean the law taking into context what is at stake at the moment”. And he added: “It is all about what the law should serve today at the same time considering the will of the people.”
3. FDLR teaming up with Imbonerakure in Burundi, says ICGLR report
Private but pro-government newspapers
New Times, 9th August 2015. “ICGLR to consider report on alleged presence of FDLR in Burundi” by James Karuhanga
- A verification report on the alleged presence of the FDLR in Burundi was presented to members of the ICGLR by the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM).
- Unconfirmed reports indicated that the FDLR militia was teaming up with Imbonerakure, a youth wing of Burundi’s ruling party in harassing and attacking members of opposition political parties.
- According to various reports, FDLR elements were posing as police officers. Burundi government officials have publically denied claims that FDLR militia are operating in Bujumbura.
- The Executive Secretary of the ICGLR, Prof. Ntumba Luaba, is reported to have informed the Chairman of the ICGLR Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee, Georges R. Chicoti, on the military operations against the FDLR.