It was recently announced that South Africa summoned its ambassador to Kigali, George Nkosinati Twala. It was also reported that among the reasons for his summoning was that South African Foreign Minister Lindiwe Sisulu was slandered.
In a statement, released by the Government of Rwanda Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation states that it has communicated, through diplomatic channels, serious concerns about consistent attempts by the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation “to delay or derail the course of normalization”.
It further reads: “These include unfounded allegations made against Rwanda in public statements and the media, based on rumours and distortions propagated by Rwandan detractors based in Canada and South Africa, and media platforms associated with them.
It is a cause for concern that the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation chooses to believe these groups over the assurance provided by the Government of Rwanda.”
Minister Lindiwe Sisulu recently announced that he had a conversation with Kayumba Nyamwasa, before negotiations between the two countries, aimed at normalising their relations which was bad news for Rwanda.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda also expressed concerns over “the repeated summons of the Rwandan High Commissioner in Pretoria for reasons unknown to the Government of Rwanda, including articles by obscure tabloids.”
Rwanda argues that relations between states cannot be contingent to suggested negotiations with subversive and criminal movements led by individuals who have either been convicted of, or are wanted for, criminal activities.
In 2014, South Africa temporarily suspended visas for Rwandans flying to South Africa using ordinary passports. At the time, the country expelled three Rwandan diplomats in Pretoria, and Rwanda retaliated by expelling six South African diplomats in Kigali.
Rwanda accused South Africa of hosting those who were behind exploding grenades in the country, killing innocent people. South Africa also accused Rwanda of being behind an armed attack at Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa’s home in the country.
The former Rwandan Army Commander was convicted of the crimes including forming a terror group, disturbing the country’s security, divisionism and escaping the army.
He was sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment in absentia in 2011, and was stripped of all military ranks.
He fled to South Africa, where he founded an opposition movement, the Rwandan National Congress.
Leave a Reply