Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

They were part of a team from G4S Global contracted by UNMAS.

“We found them shaken and terrified; some of them had suffered injuries from the attack. They told us they had not slept for five days and were relieved to see us,” stated Major Aime Uwimana, commanding officer of the Rwandan troops.

The UNMAS team were returning from Torit with food and cash supplies for a sister team in Longiro when they were surrounded by some 30 gunmen at a roadblock between Loronyo and Longiro.

“They pointed their guns at us and forced our drivers to stop. They then ordered us to get down from our vehicles and sit on the ground,” said John Mowej, one of the survivors. “Moments later, they fired shots into the air, and we were told to lie face down on the ground,” he continued.

The assailants injured a few UNMAS workers and stole cash and food rations before releasing them with their vehicles later the same day.

“Once they took all our cash and supplies, they told us to re-enter our vehicles and threatened to shoot us if we disobeyed their orders,” narrated John Maguy, another victim. “However, we heard a gunshot as soon as we were inside our cars. We all thought that one of us had been killed; it was much later that we realized we were all, thankfully, alive,” he added.

The UNMAS team was able to join colleagues at a camp 13 kilometres away, where they waited for UNMISS support to arrive. “Till then, they survived on food and other assistance provided by nearby local communities because they were left with very little,” added Lieutenant Colonel Reuben Klutse, a UN Military Observer.

Meanwhile, other members of their team cancelled plans to join them from Torit and focused on their safety.

“We immediately stopped all mine clearance operations in the area because it was no longer safe. Our focus was to ensure our team members were secure,” said Eric Compion, the contracted team leader on site.

Tensions here have been high since last year, when the two neighbouring communities of Loronyo and Longiro began suspecting each other of cattle raids.

“As UNMISS peacekeepers, we’ve been monitoring existing tensions in the area and were ready to quell any potential violence during the rescue, since there has been a spate of recurring armed ambushes on these roads earlier,” stated Major Uwimana.

“We coordinated extensively with stakeholders, including the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, and deployed the minute we received the information,” added Lieutenant Klutse.

Rescuing the personnel was not without its own difficulties. The roads had been damaged by recent rains and the rescue team was almost ambushed itself. “While returning to Torit, we spotted an attempted armed ambush on our own convoy around Loronyo,” states Major Uwimana.

“Thankfully, the timely action of my team defused the situation and we were able to make sure that the UNMAS team returned safely.”

Source: UNMISS

The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Mini Summit on Central Africa chaired by President João Lourenço was also attended by the President of Congo Brazaville, Sassou Nguesso; CAR President, Faustin-Archange Touadéra and Major General Ibrahim Jaber representing Sudan.

Ahead of the summit, President Kagame held talks with President João Lourenço as Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed via twitter handle.

The first meeting was held in January 2021 where President Kagame was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta.

Rwanda has been a main contributor to United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) since it first deployed in 2014. MINUSCA’s Rwandan contingent is notably in charge of the security of Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera and the presidential palace.

As of December last year, CAR registered 60,000 dispersed civilians fleeing conflicts that have mired the country.

Towards the end of 2020, Rwanda deployed more troops, at the request of the government in Bangui, to help prevent a coalition of rebels from inflaming tensions in the troubled nation.

At the time, Rwanda deployed force protection troops trained to conduct special operations in Bangui, under a bilateral agreement on defence.

These forces were sent under different mandate to reinforce security to ensure smooth elections and protect Rwanda’s forces against any attacks.

Early January this year, the Minister of Defense of the Central African Republic (CAR), Marie-Noëlle Koyara, commended the intervention of Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) special troops who thwarted rebels that intended to destabilize security in the northern part of Bangui capital city. She explained that the act reflects Rwanda’s commitment to secure the country engulfed by armed conflicts.

President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, was re-elected on 27th December 2020 with 53,16 % votes.

ICGLR was established in 1994. Member countries include Angola, Burundi, DRC, Congo, CAR, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Its responsibility is to coordinate, facilitate, monitor and thereby ensure the implementation of the Pact in order to attain peace, security, political stability and development in the Great Lakes Region.

{{All Photos: Village Urugwiro }}

The duo died immediately while three others returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

They were shot last night in Murambi village, Buhaza cell of Rubavu sector.

One of the deceased is Nzayisaba Jean Damascene from Rukoko cell, Rubavu sector who carried a sack of smuggled clothes while his colleague has not yet been identified.

Colonel Innocent Mpabuka, the Second-In-Command of 201 Brigade operating in the districts of Rubavu, Nyabihu, Ngororero and part of Rutsiro has told residents soldiers are deployed to protect their security and advised them against crossing through porous borders.

“We are not mandated to shot civilians. Our duty is to protect your security. It is difficult to distinguish citizens from enemies when people cross through such porous entries during night hours. If you cross along the day, we can arrest you for penalties. However, those people crossing during night hours are criminals because it might create loopholes for the enemy,” he said.

The mayor of Rubavu district, Gilbert Habyarimana has requested residents to avoid crossing through bushes reminding them that whoever opts for such paths is considered an enemy.

“Even though borders are closed; we have established a system facilitating trade between both countries’ citizens using authorized borders. We would like to remind you to abide by rules. It is saddening that some people still cross to the country overnight and pass by soldiers’ stances. Please, come to us for assistance and stop such acts. I would also like to reassure you that Rutagara border you requested might reopen soon,” he said.

In the meantime, Habyarimana reminded residents to cross through three authorized borders including Kabuhanga, Petite Barriere and Grande Barriere.

Last week, two more men were shot illegally crossing to Rwanda through the valley between Rwanda and DRC during night hours.

One of them died while his colleague survived with leg injuries.

The stunning announcement came just hours after electoral officials had declared Deby, 68, the winner of the April 11 presidential election, paving the way for him to stay in power for six more years.

Deby “has just breathed his last defending the sovereign nation on the battlefield” over the weekend, army spokesman General Azem Bermandoa Agouna said in a statement read out on state television.

Deby’s campaign said on Monday that he was headed to the frontlines to join troops battling “terrorists”.

The circumstances of Deby’s death could not immediately be independently confirmed due to the remote location. It was not known why the president would have visited the area or participated in ongoing clashes with the rebels who opposed his rule.

Rebels based across the northern frontier in Libya attacked a border post on election day and then advanced hundreds of kilometres south across the desert.

Deby came to power in a rebellion in 1990 and is one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.

He revealed this yesterday in a talk show aired on RBA, few hours after Rwanda released the report detailing France’s role in Genocide against the Tutsi.

“The Rwanda’s report has been presented to the cabinet today. It will be appropriately handed over to France in coming days. It is reasonable that the country will read it and give feedback,” he said.

Minister Busingye went on to explain that the report ‘is a great milestone’ that emphasizes facts spoken about France for so long and observed that its findings complement ‘Duclert report’.

A team of legal experts led by American jurist Robert F Muse from the Washington-based law firm Levy, Firestone Muse LLP, on Monday, April 19 handed their report on the role of France in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, a report that was presented to the cabinet chaired by President Paul Kagame.

The report shows that the French government was neither blind nor unconscious about the Genocide and provided unwavering support to the Genocidal government that was in power then.

The 600-page report dubbed; ‘A foreseeable Genocide: the role of the French Government in connection with the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi’ was a result of four years of research. It was commissioned in 2017 by the Rwandan government.

Minister Busingye has revealed that Rwanda, France had longstanding relations that continued to exist during darks moments the country went through which prompted to suspect France’s role during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

In 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron commissioned a team of expert researchers and historians to review archives on Rwanda, France relations between 1990 and 1994 analyzing the country’s role during Genocide against Tutsi.

The report presented to Macron on 26th March 2021 revealed that France bears “heavy and overwhelming responsibilities” over tragic history that led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which took lives of over 1 million victims.

The Government of Rwanda welcomed the report saying it “represents an important step toward a common understanding of France’s role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi”.

Recently in April 2021, Prof. Vincent Duclert who headed the team of expert researchers and historians who analyzed French Government’s official archives presented the report to President Paul Kagame in Kigali.

He revealed this yesterday on Monday 19th January 2021 as Rwanda officially released its report on the role of French Government during Genocide against Tutsi.

The report was made by a law firm based in the United States of America (USA), Levy Firestone Muse.

Bob Muse, a partner at Levy Firestone Muse presented findings of the report to the Government of Rwanda during a special cabinet meeting that convened yesterday at Village Urugwiro.

The 600-page report is entitled “A Foreseeable Genocide: The Role of the French Government in Connection with the Genocide against the Tutsi.”

Minister Biruta has revealed that the report was made on the request of Rwanda.
”The report follows the recent one made by expert commission of researchers and historians commissioned by President Macron. It is not a response to the first report. They were made differently at different times. What is clear in this report is that the French Government at the time bears a significant responsibility in failing to prevent a foreseeable Genocide. They saw all the signs and were aware of the planning and execution of the genocide but did not act to prevent it,” he said.

The report features testimonies from different people including President Paul Kagame and other RPF Inkotanyi cadres.

Both reports indicate that French Government bears responsibility during Genocide against Tutsi.

“Duclert report reviewed archives until 1994 but Rwanda’s report also analyzed the period after 1994 where it reflects on events that intended to tamper with evidences on the role of French Government during Genocide against Tutsi,” said Minister Biruta.

He also highlighted that Rwanda’s hinted on records of former French President, Mitterand on Genocide and what Rwanda suspected to have fueled ‘Genocide deniers’.

“It also draws attention on events and evidences after Genocide including trial of eight senior military officials accused by Jean Louis Burguiere. This prompted Rwanda to spend time following up these court cases,” he said.

Minister Biruta explained that Rwanda’s report is not meant for criminal investigation even though it was made by lawyers.

“The Government of Rwanda doesn’t intend to use the report for criminal investigation but a fact-finding report meant to clarify historical facts,” he noted.