He was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of recently appointed leaders including the Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Ernest Nsabimana.
The Head of State also reminisced on various issues including Rwanda’s security and state of relations with neighbouring countries among others.
He particularly singled out security matters and armed groups including FDLR which has been roaming in DRC.
“Our enemy who has been there for the last 25 years is still there. What was put in place to address this issue, instead looks like it is being used to nurture the problem and helping it to continue to grow. It seems like it is being used as a way to keep some people employed and paid under the pretext that they are addressing this problem.” He said.
“I cannot understand how this issue can last for over 20 years, costs billions of dollars but never gets solved. There is something incomprehensible here,” Kagame added.
UN deployed peacekeeping troops to Eastern DRC in 1999 under the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) which was later changed to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
23 years on, peace has not yet been restored in the region but armed groups continue to increase despite the huge budget of more than Rwf1000 billion spent annually.
President Kagame said, Rwanda is ready to deal with the issue that lingered for several years.
{{Rwanda is standby}}
Last year, Rwanda National Police (RNP) in collaboration with Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) paraded before the media, 13 people who were arrested for planning to conduct terrorist attacks in different parts of the City of Kigali.
At the time, RNP revealed that the suspects were arrested with different improvised explosive devices (IEDs) materials that include; wires, nails, phones, explosives and videos for radicalization.
They were arrested at different times in Kigali City, Rusizi and Nyabihu districts.
The suspects disclosed that they were assigned to shatter different buildings including Kigali City Tower, Downtown and others in Nyabugogo.
Investigation report proved that arrested suspects worked with a terrorist group known as Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
ADF operates in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in North Kivu.
The suspects revealed that the attacks were plotted in revenge for Rwanda’s intervention in Cabo Delgado.
As he delivered remarks recently, President Kagame said that Rwanda closely follows up on security issues in DRC because armed groups operating there have started plans to destabilize Rwanda.
He revealed that it is possible for ADF to work with FDLR as terror outfits sharing plans to threaten Rwanda.
Kagame said that Rwanda is following up what is happening in DRC due to the presence of FDLR and other armed groups that might cooperate with ADF. The Head of State underscored that the country will play its part to fix these issues conveniently.
“We consider several mechanisms including negotiations, there are times we plead, there are times we ask, but if need be, there are instances when we don’t do neither and instead act on the matter accordingly,” he noted.
The President said that currently, leaders have come together to negotiate for common ground, but should the issue turn out to be a threat to Rwanda, “We are ready to step up, and defend our territory. Our main priority which is security for Rwandans.”
The speech made members of the public wonder if Rwandan soldiers might enter DRC territory to fight armed groups as the case in 1997 when remnants of the genocidal forces plotted attacks to Rwanda.
Gatete Nyiringabo Ruhumuriza, one of political analysts following up regional issues has told IGIHE there should be no reasons hindering Rwanda’s intervention in DRC in case MONUSCO fails.
“Should MONUSCO fail to solve the issue, Rwanda will intervene in DRC if it turns out to be necessary. Rwanda cannot keep quiet on people disturbing us as they groan nearby our bed yet it has restored peace in Mozambique,” he said.
However, Gatete observed, President Kagame did not affirm that Rwandan soldiers are set to enter DRC territory.
Commenting on whether Rwandan and Uganda soldiers might work together to decimate ADF as they have entered a new area of normalizing ties, Gatete explained that Rwanda does not need to heavily rely on bilateral relations to solve its problems.
“Having started to normalize relations with Uganda is a commendable step that might ease the work but failure to reach common ground cannot prevent us from solving issues,” he said.
Tite Gatabazi, a journalist and political analyst observed that Rwanda needs discussions with DRC before entering its territory to maintain existing cordial relations between the two countries.
“It requires DRC’s consent. Otherwise, it can trigger conflicts,” he noted.
Taking into account the current situation, Gatabazi also explained that Rwandan soldiers are not likely to return to DRC given that FDLR is on the brink of defeat following the death of top commanders.
Rwanda and DRC enjoy cooperation agreements in different areas including security.
Leave a Reply