The meeting was held in the evening of Wednesday after Tshisekedi received oaths of three new judges of the Constitutional Court.
As he attended the ceremony, Tshisekedi did not deliver a speech as expected but RTNC , DRC national broadcaster announced that the head of state had other urgent appointments ‘related to issues between the country and Rwanda’.
The Defence Council brought together senior military officers and representatives from other security forces.
Similar meeting held recently resolved on suspension of RwandAir flights to all destinations in DRC including Lubumbashi, Goma and Kinshasa.
One of resolutions taken during the meeting held on Wednesday is ‘to demand Rwanda to withdraw its troops from DRC’.
The resolution comes at a time when Rwanda has repeatedly maintained that it has no soldiers on the country’s land. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) recently confirmed that it has not yet seen any Rwandan soldier in DRC.
As announced by the minister of communication and spokesperson of DRC, Patrick Muyaya; the Security Council also resolved on requesting DRC government to suspend all agreements signed with Rwanda.
However, it remains unclear whether the decision concerns agreements signed before or during the regime of Tshisekedi.
IGIHE has learnt that another meeting is expected between Thursday and Friday to confirm the revocation.
It is said that the country also mulls suspending diplomatic cooperation.
In March 2019, Rwanda and DRC signed agreements to open airspace which saw RwandAir commencing flights to Kinshasa and vice versa.
In June 2021, DRC and Rwanda signed three cooperation agreements on the promotion and protection of investments, avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion between the two countries as well as a memorandum on gold mining.
Both countries also signed more agreements aligning with their membership to East African Community (EAC).
Since FARDC fight with M23 erupted, DRC has been accusing Rwanda of supporting the rebel group. Rwanda has refuted the allegations as baseless claims and urged the country to stop dragging it into its internal problems.
As per figures released by the National Institute of Statistics (NISR) for the quarter ended on 31st March 2022 , agriculture registered 1 percent growth in the first quarter, industries grew by 10% while the service sector grew by 11%.
Overall, services sector remained the main contributor with 47 percent of GDP, agriculture sector contributed 23 percent, industry sector contributed 22 percent while net direct taxes accounted for 8%.
Agricultural activities grew by 1 percent and contributed 0.6 percentage points to overall GDP growth. Within agriculture, the production of food crops decreased by 1 percent and the production of export crops increased by 14 percent too.
In the industry sector, the main contributors were construction activities which grew by 6 percent, manufacturing activities which grew by 11 percent. Mining and quarrying activities also increased by 16 percent.
The growth in manufacturing activities is due to an increase of 6 percent in food processing, 12 in beverages and tobacco, 20 percent in wood and paper; printing, 19 percent in production of chemicals and plastic products and 22% in textiles.
Within services sector; information and communication services increased by 17 percent, professional, scientific and technical activities increased by 5 percent, real estate activities increased by 5 percent while education increased by 2 percent.
NISR also shows that Human health and social work activities increased by 22 percent, hotel and restaurant services by 80 percent, administrative and support services by 6 percent and public administration and defense; compulsory social security by 7 percent.
The Deputy Director General of NISR, Ivan Murenzi has said that the global economy is currently facing issues related to the supply chain and effects of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
He attributed the GDP growth to expended efforts including vaccination campaign to inoculate a large number leading to eased COVID-19 restrictions for businesses to resume.
He made the call on Wednesday 15th June 2022 as insecurity continues to escalate in eastern DRC following weeks of fighting between M23 and FARDC which saw thousands of people displaced.
Kenyatta has through a statement said that the recent developments including open hostilities, create a serious threat to the success of regional leadership’s work including the promotion of outcomes of the Inter-Congolese consultations on the Nairobi Process.
The Head of State has also called for the declaration of the areas of Ituri in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces as weapon free zones, where any individual carrying weapons outside the official and legally deployed and mandated forces will be disarmed.
Considering the situation, Kenyatta has called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities in eastern DRC, and for armed groups, both foreign and local, to lay down arms immediately, unconditionally ‘and commit to political process’.
“In doing so, I call for the activation of the East African Regional Force under the auspices of the East African Community [EAC]. The Regional Force is a component of the military/security enforcement track also provided for in the Communiqué adopted on 21st April 2022,” he stated.
The decision to establish a regional force was arrived at in April when Kenyatta hosted the leaders of Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and the DRC in Nairobi to discuss the crisis.
Kenyatta also revealed that the Regional commanders of the seven-nation EAC bloc will meet on Sunday to finalize preparations for the deployment of the joint force.
“The East African Regional Force shall be deployed to the Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces immediately to stabilize the zone and enforce peace.”
Kenyatta said the regional force will work alongside local provincial authorities and in close coordination with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to disarm anyone carrying illegal firearms.
On Monday this week, M23 announced that it captured Bunagana town and border.
The fighting saw people displaced while Congolese soldiers fled to Uganda.
According to media reports, Uganda has repatriated the soldiers to DRC.
Congolese took to streets in the morning of Wednesday 15th June 2022 for protests against Rwanda accusing the country of supporting M23 group in clashes with Congolese Army (FARDC).
The demonstrations took place in different places including Goma town in Northern Kivu Province and premises of Rwanda’s embassy in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Those who participated in the protests include parliamentarians, representatives from civil society organizations, ordinary citizens, motorcyclists and traders among others.
In Goma, rioters turned violent and mounted demonstrations at the country’s small border with Rwanda commonly known as ’Petite Barrière’ where they threw stones on Rwandan territory.
Videos taken during the riots show Congolese protesting at the border while others pulled down advertising banners on Rwandans’ shops. Banners advertising RwandAir in Goma were also destroyed.
Young people participating in the protests are also seen running fast to loot Rwandans’ shops.
Sandro Shyaka, a businessman in Rubavu district with shops in Goma town is among affected traders.
The businessman was abducted recently on 12th May 2021 by unidentified people in Kimoka area located in 20 kilometers from Goma town as he travelled from Sake to Kitshanga in Masisi.
He was released on huge ransom paid by his family.
A journalist based in Goma has told IGIHE that the majority of the youth looting the shops are gangs hired to stage demonstrations even though some of them have been foiled.
He revealed that protestors including ‘the gangs attempted to break padlocks on Rwandans’ shops but foiled by Police’.
The journalist has also revealed that some of gangs have been brought together to receive warning against such violence.
On Tuesday, some Congolese attempted to assault Rwandan students but were arrested by Police and released in the evening.
The attacks to Rwandans continue to escalate in DRC where the gangs are reported to be prime masterminds orchestrating the assaults to loot their properties.
Meanwhile, there are opinion leaders and politicians who continue to fuel hatred against Rwandans and supporting the gangs’ violent acts.
The riots have also seen Rwandans halting movements to Goma lest they are assaulted after crossing into DRC.
Protests also attempted to storm Rwanda but Rwanda National Police foiled them.
The plane carrying the first batch of migrants deported from UK to Rwanda under the recently signed Migration and Economic Development Partnership was expected to land in Kigali on Wednesday 15th June 2022.
Few hours before scheduled time for the plane to take off, BBC reported, the flight was stopped after a late intervention from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) led to fresh challenges in the UK courts.
After the judgement from the ECtHR, passengers were removed from the plane which had to take off on Tuesday at 11:30 p.m. of Kigali Time.
The human rights court said that it had suspended the deportation of one migrant from Iraq who was onboard the plane.
It also maintained that UK must wait for the final judgement next month before further action.
Rwanda and UK signed the partnership on 14th April 2022.
Following the last minute cancellation; the Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo has said that Rwanda remains committed to welcome the migrants when they arrive.
“We are not deterred by these developments. Rwanda remains fully committed to making this partnership work. The current situation of people making dangerous journeys cannot continue as it is causing untold suffering to so many,” she said.
“Rwanda stands ready to receive the migrants when they do arrive and offer them safety and opportunity in our country,” added Makolo.
Following the cancellation, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said that she was “disappointed” but added that preparation for the next flight continues.
“I have always said this policy will not be easy to deliver and am disappointed that legal challenge and last-minute claims have meant today’s flight was unable to depart,” she said.
“We will not be deterred from doing the right thing and delivering our plans to control our nation’s borders. Our legal teams are reviewing every decision made on this flight and preparations for the next flight begins now,” added Patel.
Under this partnership, the UK will provide an upfront investment of £120 million to fund invaluable opportunities for Rwandans and migrants including secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons and higher education.
These asylum seekers from African countries and others outside the continent will be treated decently like Rwandans upon arrival. It is expected that those willing to return to their mother lands will be helped to do so.
The demonstrations took place in different places including Goma and premises of Rwanda’s embassy in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Those who participated in the protests include parliamentarians, representatives from civil society organizations, ordinary citizens, motorcyclists and traders among others.
In Goma, protestors turned violent and mounted demonstrations at the country’s small border with Rwanda commonly known as ‘Petite Barrière’ where they threw stones on Rwandan territory.
Protests are escalating in DRC where all political parties harbouring destructive ideologies against Rwanda are requesting for approval to stage demonstrations.
Each political party has to write to DRC leadership requesting for a go ahead to mount protests at Rwanda’s embassy in the country.
Rwanda’s embassy is headquartered in Avenue de Justice in Kinshasa. It is located in a multi-storey building which also houses different businesses.
The embassy’s officials are safe as the majority opted to work from home lest they are assaulted by protestors.
On 1st June 2022, Congolese in Bukavu town staged protests at Rusizi I and Rusizi II borders requesting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to close all borders with Rwanda particularly in Rusizi District.
Congolese involved in protests were heard yelling, speaking ill of Rwanda and insisting that they want to fight Rwanda.
The tension between Rwanda and DRC rose since M23 rebel group resumed fight with Congolese Army (FARDC).
DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting M23 and claimed that Rwandan soldiers crossed to the country for the same cause.
During the clashes with M23, FARDC in collaboration with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have shelled Rwanda territory three times since March this year.
The rockets shelled on Rwanda’s land injured people from Musanze and Burera district and destroyed properties.
Following the tension between the two neighboring countries; Angolan President João Lourenço embarked on mediation process. His recent discussions with Congolese President, Tshisekedi saw the country releasing two Rwandan soldiers kidnapped by FDLR and FARDC.
On Monday this week, it was reported that M23 captured Bunagana town and border, seized an armoured vehicle from FARDC. The Spokesperson of M23 announced that Bunagana town is in full control of M23 adding that Congolese soldiers in the area fled to Uganda.
Bunagana is located in 60 kilometers from Goma town located at the border between Rwanda and DRC.
Rwanda has at different times explained that DRC’s allegations are baseless and insisted that the crisis is an internal matter of DRC which has to be solved without dragging it into the issue.
BBC has reported that the flight was stopped after a late intervention from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) led to fresh challenges in the UK courts.
The cancellation of the flight followed days of arguments in UK courts, ending with the home secretary getting the go-ahead to begin transporting some of the asylum seekers.
After the judgement from the ECtHR, passengers were removed from the plane which had to take off on Tuesday at 11:30 p.m. of Kigali Time.
BBC has reported that the Boeing 767, chartered at an estimated cost of £500,000, had been due to take off from a military airport in Wiltshire.
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was “disappointed” but added that preparation for the next flight continues.
“I have always said this policy will not be easy to deliver and am disappointed that legal challenge and last-minute claims have meant today’s flight was unable to depart,” she said.
“We will not be deterred from doing the right thing and delivering our plans to control our nation’s borders. Our legal teams are reviewing every decision made on this flight and preparations for the next flight begins now,” added Patel.
The human rights court said that one migrant from Iraq onboard the plane was not supposed to be deported.
It also maintained that UK must wait for the final courts’ judgement next month before further action.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that the National Order of Honour awarded to Houlin Zhao is in recognition of his distinguished service as the leader of ITU during a very consequential period for the globalization of telecommunications technology.
Zhao has been awarded with the National Order of Honour during a ceremony that took place today at Urugwiro Village.
It was attended by officials including the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire and the Political Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, Xing Yuchun among others.
Agaciro is awarded to a Head of State/Government, the head of an international organization, or another high-ranking official who has distinguished themselves through actions that significantly promote the common good, in Rwanda and beyond, in political, economic or social domains.
Agaciro is among five National Orders in Rwanda. The remaining four include; the National Order Of Friendship (Igihango), National Order Of Performance (Indashyikirwa), National Order Of Culture (Indangamirwa) and National Order Of Bravery (Indengabaganizi).
The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies. It was established on 17th May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, making it the oldest UN agency.
ITU’s global membership includes 193 Member States as well as some 900 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations.
The current Secretary-General of ITU, Houlin Zhao,72, hails from China.
He was elected for the first time in 2014 and re-elected for another term in 2018.
Houlin Zhao is a great friend of Rwanda who stayed closer to Rwanda along its journey to accelerate use of technology in different areas.
Despite the deployment of forces under the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), citizens in eastern DRC have been experiencing unrest for several years due to incessant wars between rebel groups operating there and Congolese Army (FARDC).
Recently, M23 resumed fighting with FARDC which teamed up with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and other groups.
As of today, M23 has captured Bunagana town while DRC soldiers have massively fled to Uganda.
FDLR is comprised of remnant masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi which plotted hit and run attacks on Rwanda and repelled back.
The recent collaboration between FARDC and FDLR triggered mixed reactions among people questioning how the Congolese Army decided to work with the group whose members perpetrated Genocide against Tutsi.
Tito Rutaremara, a political expert and the Chairperson of Rwanda Elders’ Advisory Forum has via Twitter handle pointed out DRC politicians as the root cause of security threats in eastern part of the country.
During colonial rule in DRC, there were people who used to seek shelters in forests as they fled torture by colonizers.
After the death of Patrice Lumumba, many people staged protests and took arms against the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko installed by white people.
The fighting took place in different places including Kitwit Murele and Kisangani where a rebel group known as Mai Mai was created. Members of this rebel group used what they called blessed water with a belief that it protects them against bullets.
The fighting erupted from Kisangani and spread out to the entire eastern DRC.
Many rebels were defeated where few groups including the one led by Laurent -Désire Kabila stayed in the forests of northern Katanga, excavating minerals that were sold in Tanzania.
Mobutu seemed to have ignored the rebel group because it stayed in forests without directly threatening his security.
When Laurent -Désire Kabila took power after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, he trained and recruited Interahamwe militia, and former soldiers of the Armed Forces of Rwanda (FAR) among others into Congolese Army.
He promised them that they would liberate eastern DRC, capture Rwanda and install them on power but failed to do so.
After replacing his father; Joseph Kabila, the son of Laurent Désiré Kabila decided to cease fire and agreed to take part in peace accords held in Sun City of South Africa.
They established a government sharing the power with all rebel groups. At the time, Kabila became president while Azarias Ruberwa and Jean Pierre Bemba who headed hostile groups became vice presidents.
However, Kabila took all the soldiers from FAR, Interahamwe militia and others who had joined FARDC, provided them with arms and money and dispatched them to North and South Kivu.
He encouraged them to fight for their country of origin and promised support.
At the time, they lived independently in DRC, committed rape, murders, and looted properties among others.
{{How rebel groups are controlled by politicians}}
After the creation of Mai Mai groups, Tito Rutaremara has said, many DRC politicians worked with them to secure mining sites so they can obtain enough money to participate in electoral campaigns whether at provincial or national level.
The money helps them in their ‘lobbying’ activities among ministers and parliamentarians from the United States of America (USA) and European countries to get international recognition.
That is why, DRC politicians rush to blame Rwanda for crisis erupting in the country which white people digest without verifying authenticity of provided information.
As he started the process of solving security issues in northern and eastern parts of his country; the incumbent DRC President, Felix Tshisekedi mulled the support from Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi to bring it to an end.
However, politicians rejected his plans claiming that Tshisekedi wanted to leave DRC under the control of Rwanda.
These claims discouraged Tshisekedi given that next presidential elections draw near in DRC.
As DRC joined the East African Community (EAC), member countries sought how to solve the issue in collaboration with Tshisekedi and designated Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya to follow up.
Politicians from eastern DRC politicians tampered with the process, falsely claiming that Rwanda is disturbing them and excluded M23 from peace talks with rebel groups in eastern DRC.
Excluding M23 from peace talks irked members of the rebel group that had fled to Uganda and returned to its former bases.
It is said that politicians asked FARDC to team up with FDLR to attack M23 which responded, seized weapons from opponents and captured different parts.
The politicians took advantage of the clashes and accused Rwanda of having attacked their country ‘because M23 was defeated without means to obtain light weapons’ yet the group seized them from FARDC soldiers in Rumangabo.
In order to find evidences, they propelled rockets into Rwanda three times, which injured people and destroyed properties but Rwanda did not respond.
“They took children gazing goats to be paraded but people mocked at them insisting that they are not soldiers. They also kidnapped soldiers on patrol but Rwanda request to return them home. Fortunately, they did it accordingly.”
The insecurity in eastern DRC is in the hands of politicians in eastern DRC and Mai Mai protecting mining sites helping them to secure money to continue their lobbying among citizens and politicians from America and Europe.
RDF has made the disclosure through a statement released on Tuesday 14th June 2022.
“Rwanda Defence Force would like to inform the general public that the defence and security of the Rwandan population, as well as Rwanda’s territorial integrity is assured, and that the RDF will continue to seek guarantees that cross-border attacks on Rwanda’s territory are stopped,” reads the statement.
The statement follows escalating tension between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since M23 rebel group resumed fight with Congolese Army.
DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting M23 and claimed that Rwandan soldiers crossed to the country for the same cause.
During the clashes with M23, FARDC in collaboration with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have shelled Rwanda territory three times since March this year.
The rockets shelled on Rwanda’s land injured people from Musanze and Burera district and destroyed properties.
RDF’s statement is released at a time when Rwanda is in final preparations ton host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due in the week starting from 20th June 2022.
Some political analysts indicate that the provocations are meant to tamper with smooth preparations of the meeting.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat requested Rwanda and DRC to engage in discussions aimed at calming the tension between both countries.
Following the tension between the two neighboring countries; Angolan President João Lourenço embarked on mediation process. His recent discussions with Congolese President, Tshisekedi saw the country releasing two Rwandan soldiers kidnapped by FDLR and FARDC.
On Monday this week, it was reported that M23 captured Bunagana town and border, seized an armoured vehicle from FARDC. The Spokesperson of M23 announced that Bunagana town is in full control of M23 adding that Congolese soldiers in the area fled to Uganda.
Bunagana is located in 60 kilometers from Goma town located at the border between Rwanda and DRC.
