To compile this list of the World’s Greatest Places, the top spots to visit this year, TIME solicited nominations of places from its international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences.
The list features prominent towns like Doha in Qatar where 100 new hotels are being opened to accommodate participants of the World Cup between November and December.
Often described as the friendliest African city, Kigali has been selected for its initiatives to push toward a green future, especially for its growing tourism trade.
These include GuraRide, the new Rwandan bike-sharing app which provides easy, affordable access to scooters, road bikes, and e-bikes, with docks peppered throughout the city.
Kigali is also upgrading its roads as part of the recently launched Kigali Infrastructure Project, which aims to ease congestion, provide more direct connection among hard-to-reach neighborhoods, and reduce pollution.
Newly created car-free zones, the most recent launched in Gisimenti, let residents and visitors take back city streets on weekends.
More investment has yielded more development in the tourism sector in the last year. The first 18-hole golf course in the city, at the new Kigali Golf Resort and Villas, hosted its first golf tournament last December.
These activities are an addition to the opening of the Nyandungu Wetland Ecotourism Park early in January which safeguards 121 hectares of endangered wetlands, including more than 70 bird species and a fig forest—viewable from walking routes and cycling paths.
Located southeast of Kigali, Bugesera International Airport is set to deliver more direct flights. Other infrastructures include a new Four Points by Sheraton opened in Kigali in June, just in time to house attendees of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The annual list also features four best destinations in Africa including Nairobi City in Kenya, Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, Franschhoek town in South Africa and Lower Zambezi Park in Zambia.
Other outstanding destinations on the list include Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), Park City (Utah), Galápagos Islands, Dolni Morava (Repubulika ya Tcheque), Seoul (Korea y’Epfo), Great Barrier Reef (Australia), Doha, (Qatar), Detroit, Kerala (u Buhinde), The Arctic, Ahmedabad (India), València (Espagne), Queenstown, (Vouvelle Zelande), Historic Silk Road Sites (Uzbekistan), São Paulo (Brazil) and Trans Bhutan Trail (Bhutan) among others.
[{{Click here to read more selected destinations.}} ->https://time.com/collection/worlds-greatest-places-2022/]
Speaking to IGIHE recently, the man who was in Kigali for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022, talked about relations between Uganda and Rwanda and disclosed how he was threatened over his criticisms among others.
As tensions between both countries escalated, the MP maintained that Uganda’s silence on allegations brought forth by Rwanda only served to exacerbate the situation.
Rwanda accused Uganda of harbouring dissidents with intention to threaten its security.
Uganda was also accused of harassing, abducting and torturing Rwandans crossing to Uganda for different reasons.
During an exclusive interview with IGIHE last year, Mbidde said that the closure of Gatuna border in 2019 was not the root cause of spoiled relations insisting that the decision was taken ‘to solve a problem’.
He explained that the arrest of Rwandans by Uganda’s security forces where some of them would spend a year enduring torture in detentions without consular access was a major reason that had to trigger the closure.
Apart from illegal detentions of Rwandans, Mbidde revealed that his country had started working with subversive groups intending to destabilize Rwanda.
He pointed out an example of Charlotte Mukankusi, a member of Rwanda National Congress (RNC) who received Ugandan passport and her colleagues who met with President Museveni.
Mbidde revealed that he was the first person who openly pointed out those issues in Uganda as the government remained silent.
Commenting on his country’s reactions to his criticisms, Mbidde recently told IGIHE that his colleagues isolated him an unpatriotic person.
“I got isolated because of those positions that I hold, by many sections of the people including my own colleagues in parliament. They really think I am not nationalistic enough, as to defend the wrong things that my country is doing,” he said.
Mbidde highlighted that pointing out where the government is wrong on an issue is of utmost importance to save it from danger.
“In my opinion, I did not even make those statements for anyone’s benefit but for mine. That this has to stop immediately. A lot of our people did not address the reasons for the border closure. They always addressed the closure. When you begin with that only, then you miss out the proper point for discussions,” he noted.
Due to his position on the issue between Rwanda and Uganda, Mbidde received threats but insisted that he is always comfortable to point out what is going wrong irrespective of whatever circumstances.
“Security forces also trailed me. I got a lot of threats, the president came out and openly called me Munyarwanda,” he disclosed.
The parliamentarian said that the situation did not scare him because Obote had also called Museveni a Munyarwanda.
“It is okay. Even if I would die, I would have died a very happy person if…I have raised somebody that can cry, stand up and strangle my killer without being paid. So, I do not regret what I did and I will partake of the circumstances that are continuous,” he noted.
Despite the setbacks, Rwanda and Uganda have embarked on a journey to restore relations that had deteriorated since 2017.
Both countries decided to turn a new page for relations following visits of Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to Rwanda two times in 2022 where he met with President Paul Kagame leading to the reopening of Gatuna border.
Lt Gen Muhoozi is the first born son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni serving as the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations and Commander of Land Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The court has also ordered immediate arrest of Bucyibaruta, 78, who has been under trial for two months over complicity in Genocide and crimes against humanity in Gikongoro prefecture which he headed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He was given ten days to have appealed against the verdict.
During trial proceedings, the Prosecution had requested the court to hand life sentence to Bucyibaruta.
At the heart of the case against the convict, were several “security” meetings, either ordered or attended by Bucyibaruta, which prosecutors had argued were actually planning sessions for the killings.
Specifically, Bucyibaruta was accused of having persuaded thousands of people to take refuge in the Murambi Technical School, by promising them food, water and protection.
Days later, in the early hours of April 21, tens of thousands of Tutsis were executed there.
The court also examined Bucyibaruta’s responsibility in the massacre of around 90 Tutsi pupils at the Marie Merci school in Kibeho on 7th May 1994 and in the execution of Tutsi prisoners including three priests in Gikongoro prison.
It is said that Bucyibaruta, who has been in France since 1997, has several health problems and was allowed to remain under house arrest during trial to receive treatments.
Richard Gisagara, a lawyer who followed up the case has welcomed the ruling.
“Let us reflect on victims in Kibeho, Murambi, Cyanika and Kaduha among others. I am grateful to those who entrusted me with heavy responsibilities to represent them,” he said.
Bucyibaruta was born in Musange in1944. He served as the prefect of Gikongoro Prefecture from 4th July 1992 to July 1994.
Initially, he fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and later went to France in 1997 where he lives up to date.
The sentence handed to Bucyibaruta is considered as a great step made by France which was for long blamed over sheltering masterminds of Genocide against the Tutsi roaming freely.
Following the visit of French President, Emmanuel Macron to Rwanda last year, the country pledged to work with Rwanda to bring to justice individuals suspected of role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Umbrella organizations of survivors of Genocide against the Tutsi and human rights activists had requested for trial of Bucyibaruta in 2000.
The man in question is Felicien Habanabakize, 43, hailing from Gisozi Sector of Gasabo District in Kigali City.
Hospitalized for 13 years at Kibagabaga Hospital, his legs are paralyzed, pleading for God’s mercy to save his life, as he spends all the times on his hospital bed.
Habanabakize was admitted at the hospital in January 2010, after falling from a house he was roofing in 2009. His back was seriously injured that it affected the backbone.
“I was taken to the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali [CHUK] following the accident. I spent two weeks there before I was transferred to the University Teaching Hospital of Butare [CHUB] for back surgery.
After spending six months awaiting surgery at the hospital, doctors told me that my situation would be much worse and result into death if they performed the procedure because I had an injury on the backbone below the neck,” he narrated.
Since then, CHUB transferred him to Kibagabaga Hospital in Gasabo District. His arms and legs are paralyzed that he is unable to move and spends all his days reclining in bed.
Because of leaning for several years, he has multiple wounds on his back, thigh and legs. He receives medication but they seem to be always fresh as the parts of his body are lean on his bed.
This has led to depression because of his deteriorating life.
“There are times when I wish to die, but cool down as I see others in similar conditions. I just stay in my bed and wait for God’s mercy because I can’t do anything about it,” he said.
Realizing that there is no hope for recovery, his family seems to have abandoned him and no longer visits him. Habanabakize depends on good Samaritans to survive.
Psychologists helping patients and families on daily basis have revealed that such circumstances affect mental health making it harder to accept such painful life.
Habanabakize is among other patients who have spent several years of sufferings in hospitals.
Emmanuel Nyandwi, 35, is in his fifth year at the hospital after falling off a bridge. His legs are also paralyzed. He last saw his relatives visiting him in 2018 and never came back.
Nyandwi also disclosed that family’s affection is much needed in such situation because it helps them overcome depression with a feeling that they are not alone.
Their burdens are not only limited to physical suffering but also endure emotional pain. The hospital bills bring a huge blow to their life as they have no sources of income. According to Nyandwi, the hospital charges him Rwf15, 000 every month and the money keeps increasing due to failure to pay.
His family initially catered for the bills but no longer do so due to lack of means.
Jean Baptiste Muvunyi has been on ventilators helping him to breathe for the past four years.
It all started by swelling of the chest. He thought the condition would be easily treated but worsened overtime.
“Realizing that my health conditions were worsening, I went to a health center hoping to be treated and return home. However, I never returned because the situation was more severe than I thought,” he revealed.
He was immediately transferred to Kibagabaga Hospital where he was put on ventilator until today.
Muvunyi highlighted that patients spending long time at health facilities need special care from their families, nurses and doctors to move on with life.
Before the sickness, he was a mason. Muvunyi hopes to recover one day but worried about the cost of services.
He revealed that doctors recommended him a device that can help him to breathe but it would require Rwf6.5 million which he cannot afford.
As Muvunyi said, he was promised to be discharged once he gets means to buy the device. He is waiting patiently that good Samaritans would one day bring a smile to his life by helping him cater for the price.
Muvunyi and Sephora Uwingeneye, a mother of three suffer from the same sickness. Uwingeneye is always worried about the education and wellbeing of her children.
{{Need for special support}}
The Director General of Kibagabaga Hospital, Lt col Dr Ernest Munyemana has said that patients staying in hospital for a long time are likely to be abandoned by their families.
“Under such situation, patients feel desperate and depressed. If psychologists do not stay closer to them, their health conditions can be much worse and might end up catching new diseases,” he said.
This hospital mainly receives patients with serious illness who need special medical care.
In most cases, patients who spend long time in hospitals include those with serious injuries unable to perform any activities or cannot breathe without ventilators among others.
In some instances, relatives are irked over the prolonged stay in hospital and give up on their patients.
Dr. Munyemana pointed out an example of a patient who spent almost 10 years without any support from her family at the hospital. After passing on, Dr. Munyemana said, relatives came to pick the deceased for burial disguising themselves as neighbours.
“They were identified by hospital employees who once saw them looking after the patient and informed me. We approached them for discussions,” he said.
The hospital helps patients by linking them to people who pray for them.
The management also identifies patients without means to cater for hospital bills and link them to donors willing to support needy patients.
It also works with districts to identify avenues for possible support to lessen patients’ burdens.
Dr. Munyemana has encouraged people to subscribe for Mutuelle de Santé to access health services and families to make it a habit to visit patients lest they feel isolated.
“Some patients have no families to take care of them but we blame families which abandon patients and come to the hospital sometimes to confirm whether they are still alive or not. People need to be kind hearted and understand that people catching diseases need special attention especially when hospitalized,” he said.
The management of Kibagabaga Hospital says that the facility receives between 200 and 250 out patients every day and has the capacity of accommodating 200.
The officers promoted to Major General include Vincent Nyakarundi, the Head of Defence Intelligence; Willy Rwagasana, the Commander of the Republican Guard and Ruki Karusisi, the Commander of Special Operations Force.
RDF Spokesperson, Ronald Rwivanga has been also elevated from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier General.
The statement released by RDF shows that the appointment takes immediate effect.
Major General Vincent Nyakarundi was appointed as the Head of Defence Intelligence in 2019.
Both Nyakarundi and Rwagasana had been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 2018.
Meanwhile, Karusisi Ruki had been elevated to Brigadier General in 2019 when he was appointed as the Commander of Special Operations Force.
Ronald Rwivanga had been also promoted from Lt Colonel to Colonel in June 2021. He was named RDF Spokesperson in December 2020.
The Head of State made the disclosure during an interview with a journalist of FRANCE 24, Marc Perelman held after the tripartite summit in Angola to seek a durable solution for the tension between Rwanda and DRC.
Kagame revealed that he wishes and hopes the recent discussions to be fruitful.
“I don’t think anyone is interested in tensions or conflicts or whatever crisis. So, it is on that backdrop that I am happy, that we even agreed to meet in Angola under the mediation of President Lorenzo, and indeed we had good discussions. I think both sides, at least, what I assessed to be, were looking forward to making progress,” he said.
“I hope so, that is what I think, that is what I want. Talking may not be good enough but it is what you need to start with. So, the fact that we talk, I think is good. And we can build on that for tangible results and I think this one in Angola is another step forward,” Kagame added.
Following the Luanda summit in Angola, Congolese Army (FARDC) continues to fight M23 rebel group which has captured many areas.
DRC government has not stopped accusing Rwanda of supporting M23 claiming that it is the reason why the rebel group did not lay arms down.
President has said that there are different parties in a fighting where they are all concerned with the ceasefire.
“In fighting, there are different parties involved. It is not one party. Talking about cease fire, refers to parties fighting. It is not M23. It’s M23 and those fighting against them,” he said.
President Tshisekedi recently warned of a war with Rwanda if ‘it continues provocations’.
President Kagame has said that Tshisekedi didn’t inform him about the possible reaction face to face.
“He didn’t tell me but I saw it in the Financial Times. But I am just saying, for me, I don’t so easily and carelessly anticipate war or even look forward to it. So, let’s put that aside.The reason we were in Angola is to make sure that any misunderstanding, any conflict, tension is resolved amicably not through fighting,” he revealed.
The Head of State also revealed that he is always surprised that people rush to accuse Rwanda of involvement in DRC conflicts. He was responding to the journalist who asked him about recent report by US embassy in Congo that Rwandan soldiers are in DRC.
“Rwanda is accused by the US or anybody but they are silent deliberately, I guess, on issues of FDLR that have been there for the last 25 years. You would imagine when you hear people say those things you have just mentioned. It is as if Rwanda is just a trouble maker that went into Congo, started a war. […]
They are even silent about the bombings of our territory by Congolese Army, they are silent about infiltration in November 2019 of this FDLR who entered into the Northern part of our country and caused mayhem. If we are talking about provocations, how do you decide to shell across the border into the population?” he wondered.
{{M23 is not a Rwandan problem}}
Kagame has said that Rwanda doesn’t support M23 highlighting that the rebel group doesn’t have roots in Rwanda.
“It is a long story. First of all, M23 is not a Rwandan problem and these are not Rwandans. And we don’t need them for anything. Second, the history of these M23 people is well known, has been discussed with President Tshisekedi himself, the government of Congo and so on. These are not people who came from Rwanda. How Congo makes that problem of M23, a problem of Rwanda is something I cannot understand,” he stated.
The President said that problems of DRC are complex and involves many parties where singling out one and attach it to Rwanda is disregarding the truth.
He pointed out an example of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a rebel outfit comprising masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the shelling by FARDC on Rwandan territory and the support of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
“This problem was there in 2013 or 2012. Now it is back ten years after. What do you think went wrong? I would ask anyone to tell me why these problems, which are actually in my view, can be addressed very easily,” Kagame stated.
“Why does it go on for ten years, and it comes back? In fact, some parts of it, have been there for the last 25 years and the international community, everybody have spent so much money talking about solving these problems based in the Congo. And yet, we have it again in 2022. Do you really see that Rwanda is the problem in that? Can’t anybody see that the problems lie elsewhere?’ he wondered.
Those who turned up for prayers at the stadium were joined by 24 parliamentarians from different countries who are in Rwanda for Francophonie Parliamentary Assembly.
Eid al-Adha, which in Arabic literally means the “festival of the sacrifice”, commemorates the Koran tale of Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael but God offered him a lamb to sacrifice, ruling that no human life should be sacrificed in the name of God.
The day is marked with the sacrifice of an animal; usually a goat, sheep, or cow, and the distribution of the meat among neighbours, family members and the poor.
The Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Hitimana Salim has said that Eid Al Adha is a feast of great significance which induces joy.
He added that the day should be an opportunity to spread love and adhere to commandments and Abraham obeyed God.
Sheikh Hitimana also requested Muslims to share foods with friends and vulnerable people.
Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, the Vice Speaker of the Lower Chamber of Parliament also attended the prayers along with counterparts from Francophone countries.
“They came to attend Francophonie Parliamentary Assembly taking place in Rwanda an expressed interest in joining us during this prayer. So, we made arrangements for them to participate,” he noted.
Saley Sahadatou, a parliamentarian from Niger has expressed delight to have celebrated Eid Al Adha along with Rwandans.
Rwanda and DRC recently met at a tripartite summit in Angola on Wednesday 6th July 2022 which brought together the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame; his counterpart of DRC, Félix Tshisekedi and Angolan President, João Lourenço who is the Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and mediator on tension between Rwanda and DRC.
The summit was held amidst growing tension between the two neighboring countries escalated following the resurgence of M23 rebel group in the recent months.
DRC accuses Rwanda of backing M23 in the fight with Congolese Army while Rwanda accuses it of collaboration with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist outfit comprised of remnant masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
It also blames DRC for having shelled Rwandan territory at different times in collaboration with FDLR. The projectiles injured civilians and destroyed houses.
The tension continued to grow until a Congolese soldier stormed Rwanda and opened a rapid fire on Rwandan policemen standing guard before he was shot dead.
Speaking to the Financial Times ahead of the tripartite summit in Angola, President Tshisekedi warned of war with Rwanda.
However, Rwanda has repeatedly rejected DRC’s allegations and urged it to solve its internal problems without dragging it into the conflict.
Recent discussions between both countries on the mediation of Angola saw concerned parties setting a roadmap to accelerate efforts meant to achieve durable peace.
However, concerned countries have released contradictory statements following the summit held on Wednesday. DRC’s Presidency initially released resolutions with clauses in favour of its allegations.
Later on, Rwanda and Angola released resolutions of the roadmap detailing responsibilities of each country concerned with the issues of DRC to promote peace in the region and eastern DRC.
“The Luanda tripartite meeting outcome is a roadmap with clear objectives and activities to be implemented by various parties/partners. No agreement or ceasefire was signed. Misinformation/populism are undermining the overall objective of achieving peace in DRC and the region,” Minister Biruta has tweeted.
DRC announced that immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of M23 from all captured areas were among resolutions of the summit.
Meanwhile, the issues that Rwanda indicated at the summit have been clearly pointed out for over 20 years. These include assurance of security at its borders and fighting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist group intending to threaten Rwanda.
Rwanda maintained that the terrorist group should not receive any form of support to attack Rwanda where DRC is urged not to allow FDLR to shell Rwandan territory.
The roadmap on activities to restore relations between Rwanda and DRC stresses the need to defeat FDLR and its splinter groups while more efforts have to be geared towards fighting hate speech and offensive language in the region by all parties.
The splinter groups include CNRD- FLN, RUD-Urunana, FPPH-Abajyarugamba believed to be at the origin of tensions between Rwanda and DRC and play a major role in the insecurity of the DRC.
Creating the necessary conditions for the return of refugees is among outlined priorities as per released roadmap. Rwanda, DRC, ICGLR and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will be in charge of implementation.
On the issue of M23, the summit resolved that all activities on the rebel group must be based on Nairobi Process.
IGIHE has learnt that the summit might not be fruitful as expected because concerned parties did not reach consensus during discussions.
It was also resolved that an ad-hoc verification mechanism led by an Officer General of the Republic of Angola has to be created to verify the reciprocal accusations of the DRC and Rwanda concerning the support to M23 and the collaboration with the FDLR.
The team is to be supported by the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) while ICGLR will seek MONUSCO’s support in security and logistical matters.
The EJVM is a mechanism of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) composed of military officers from the 12 member countries that is charged with monitoring and verification of border violations between DRC and neighbouring countries.
The Rwandans arrived in the neighbouring country during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and after.
They are from 36 families comprising 65 children, 15 men and 23 women who returned to Rwanda on Wednesday 6th July 2022.
Upon arrival, they were accommodated at Kijote Transit Centre located in Nyabihu District, Bigogwe Sector.
The ceremony to welcome the refugees took place on Thursday 8th July 2022. It was attended by Veneranda Ingabire, the Coordinator of the Single Project Unit at MINEMA and Francis Ezike Okagu, the Head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s Western Province office among other officials.
Ingabire has told IGIHE that the returnees will spend two weeks at the transit centre where they will provide information to have their database filled, get tested for COVID-19 and inoculated among others.
They will also receive return assistance including support funds, food items for three months, registration for national identity card and community-based health insurance for one year.
Each adult receives US$250 (Rwf250,000) while a child gets US$150.
“After making enough preparations, they receive assistance and get reintegrated into respective families in places of birth. We have welcomed and reminded them that doors are always opened. They just need to come and join others in building the nation,” said Ingabire.
Okagu has said that witnessing the repatriation of refugees who are welcomed and integrated into the society induces price to UNHCR.
More returnees are expected to arrive through Rusizi border on 8th July 2022. From 1994, over 3.5 million Rwandan refugees had returned home and reintegrated in the country (with the rest of the communities) successfully.
For the last five years, Rwanda received 15,643 returnees mainly from the DRC and both governments worked on the readiness to facilitate safe and dignified return in close collaboration with UNHCR offices in both countries even after the activation of the cessation clause for Rwandan refugees.
However, the decision to return is an individual decision and the Government of Rwanda commends the usual collaboration between regional countries in partnership with UNHCR.
Since 2009, Rwanda has successfully implemented the Comprehensive Solutions Strategy (CSS) for Rwandan refugee situation where the vast majority was in DRC.
From 2010, the then Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs in collaboration with various partners have implemented the “Enhancing Socio-Economic Opportunities for Rwandan Returnees and other Vulnerable Groups” project.
Furthermore, the Sustainable Return and Reintegration of Rwandan Returnees” programme launched in partnership with the Government of Rwanda and UNHCR has been assisting Rwandan returnees to integrate into the society and has allowed them to enjoy all rights as well as available development programs just like any other Rwandan.
The Government of Rwanda has reaffirmed its commitment to ensure the safety and sustainable reintegration of all returnees.
It has also pledged to continue to work with various partners, including neighbouring countries and UN agencies in finding possible solutions to improving the wellbeing of all refugees living in Rwanda as well as finding long-term and durable solutions for them.
The discussions took place at a tripartite summit in Angola on Wednesday 6th July 2022 which brought together the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame; his counterpart of DRC, Félix Tshisekedi and Angolan President, João Lourenço who is the Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and mediator on tension between Rwanda and DRC.
The issue of rising tension between Rwanda and DRC was recently discussed at the extraordinary Summit of the African Union in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea where President Joao Lourenço was designated as a mediator.
A former member of DRC’s cabinet said that Lourenço is a trusted person and respected by his counterparts of Rwanda and DRC that his mediation is promising to yield good results.
He has good relations with President Kagame where both countries are involved in peacekeeping activities in the Central Africa Republic (CAR).
On the other note, Angola was the first country visited by Tshisekedi after taking power. Three months later in May 2019, Angolan President visited DRC to attend the burial of the father of Tshisekedi.
A document entailing the roadmap of activities aimed at restoring relations to normal between both countries, indicates that political and diplomatic relations between the DRC and Rwanda need to be normalized.
On the side of DRC, it reads that relations will improve further in case M23 rebel group cease hostilities and withdraw from occupied positions.
Also on the agenda, is the establishment of a climate of trust between the states of the region and create optimal conditions for dialogue and political consultation to resolve the current security crisis in eastern DRC.
The roadmap also stresses the need to defeat the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and its splinter groups (CNRD- FLN, RUD-Urunana, FPPH-Abajyarugamba) believed to be at the origin of tensions between Rwanda and DRC and play a major role in the insecurity of the DRC in order to ensure that the threat to security ceases completely.
Creating the necessary conditions for the return of refugees and reactivating the Joint Intelligence Team Rwanda-DRC to agree on the practical modalities and the program for fighting the FDLR, in coordination with the Presidency of the ICGLR and the Nairobi Process are also among outlined priorities as per released roadmap.
Both countries have also agreed on reconvening a Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) where the first meeting is due on 12th July 2022 in Luanda, Angola.
More efforts will be geared towards fighting hate speech and offensive language in the region by all parties.
President João Lourenço has said that a senior military official from Angola will attend the first meeting to mediate both parties.
It was also agreed to prevent violations of territorial integrity and ensuring compliance with the commitments made by ICGLR States in this regard.
DRC accuses Rwanda of backing M23 while Rwanda accuses the neighbouring country of collaboration with FDLR.
Other outlined activities include the expansion of the mandate of the Joint ICGLR Mechanism by strengthening its role and means of action to enable it to carry out a priori monitoring, prevent and record all actions likely to compromise the implementation of the commitments of the parties with regard to the territorial integrity, security and stability of the States of the Region as well as mutual confidence between them.
An ad-hoc verification mechanism led by an Officer General of the Republic of Angola is also set to be created to verify the reciprocal accusations of the DRC and Rwanda concerning the support to M23 and the collaboration with the FDLR.
The team is to be supported by the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) while ICGLR will seek MONUSCO’s support in security and logistical matters.
The EJVM is a mechanism of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) composed of military officers from the 12 member countries that is charged with monitoring and verification of border violations between DRC and neighbouring countries.
The issue of armed groups in eastern DRC was also discussed. The heads of state resolved on the revitalisation of the Framework Agreement for Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) in the DRC and the Region
This will be done through the establishment of a joint mechanism for regular consultations and harmonisation between the ICGLR and the EAC on the Nairobi process, ending the roaming of armed groups in the region and accelerating the implementation of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Community Rehabilitation and Stabilisation (DDRSC) process and the release of resources pledged by donors.
DRC government will be responsible for implementation in collaboration with international partners including the United Nations, European Union and World Bank among others.
It was also resolved that DRC needs to create the conditions for the return of ex-fighters of M23 who are residing in Rwanda. This will go hand in hand with the review of clauses stipulated in agreements signed between DRC and the rebel group in 2019 in Kigali.
At the time, it was agreed to integrate combatants of the rebel group into Congolese Army, integrate its politicians in the government and repatriate refugees.
Rwanda, DRC, ICGLR and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will be in charge of implementation.
The summit also resolved on reviewing and implementing previous agreements regarding the return of refugees in the region and repatriate elements of armed groups to their respective countries of origin.
Else, there is need to promote economic partnership between the States of the region and strengthening of regional mechanisms to combat the illegal exploitation of natural resources
It will be reached through stepping up the fight against the illicit exploitation of the DRC’s natural resources by armed groups.
