Kigali, Dar face off again over DRC conflict


Diplomatic tensions between Tanzania and Rwanda appeared set to
escalate as the two countries once again traded accusation over the
latter's alleged backing of rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of
Congo. TEA Graphic
The East African, 4 hours ago
By JOINT REPORT The EastAfrican
Posted Saturday, May 31 2014 at 14:51
IN SUMMARY
This is not the first time the countries are trading barbs. Tension
was initially sparked off by President Jakaya Kikwete's suggestion
that the Rwandan government should hold peace talks with the FDLR
rebel group to end violence in the eastern DRC.
Sources say the soured relations between the two vitiates the
atmosphere required to promote the integration process during Heads of
State Summit needed to sign off on key protocols.
Diplomatic tensions between Tanzania and Rwanda appeared set to
escalate as the two countries once again traded accusation over the
latter's alleged backing of rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of
Congo.
Rwanda's Foreign Affairs Minister Louis Mushikiwabo on Friday
responded to the claims by her Tanzanian counterpart Bernard Membe
that the defunct M23 rebel forces that fought the DRC government until
recently was a creation of the Rwandan government, saying, "That M23
business is a tired story that has no place in the region right now.
"As for Tanzania's foreign minister whose anti-Rwanda rant in
parliament I heard, he would benefit from a lesson in the history of
the region."
Mr Membe, while appearing before the country's parliament, is reported
to have said: "When I told the BBC that Rwandans were causing
instability in eastern Congo, I meant what I said... it's the UN's
Group of Experts that originally accused Rwanda, not me."
"Rwanda and other reasonable actors in the region and afar are engaged
in finding lasting peace, so we can dedicate more time to improving
the lives of our citizens," Ms Mushikiwabo said in an e-mail to The
EastAfrican.
This is not the first time the countries are trading barbs. Tension
was initially sparked off by President Jakaya Kikwete's suggestion in
May 2013 during an African Union meeting in Ethiopia that the Rwandan
government should hold peace talks with the FDLR rebel group to end
violence in the eastern DRC.
READ: Unease in Kigali over Kikwete's call for talks with FDLR
Rwanda, which regards the Hutu group as genocidaires who played the
leading role in the 1994 genocide, termed President Kikwete as a
"sympathiser" of the FDLR.
While addressing senior military graduates in north Rwanda, President
Paul Kagame noted in reference to President Kikwete's advice, "I kept
quiet about this because of the contempt I have for it. I thought it
was utter nonsense. Maybe it was due to ignorance but if this is an
ideological problem for anyone to be thinking this way, then it better
stay with those who have it."
Sources say the two leaders have tried to avoid each other by dodging
meetings and scenarios that could bring them together. At regional
level, they say, the Heads of State Summit is needed to sign off on
key protocols, but the soured relations between the two vitiates the
atmosphere required to promote the integration process.
READ: All eyes on Dar, Kigali ahead of meeting
Mr Membe was reacting to concerns expressed by Ezekiah Wenje, the
shadow foreign minister, while presenting alternative budget proposals
in parliament, that the allegations Membe made against Rwanda on BBC's
Focus on Africa programme last September would worsen the diplomatic
tensions between the two countries.
But Mr Wenje said Mr Membe's comment, together with the government's
silence on claims by former Rwandan prime minister Faustine
Twagiramungu that he had visited Tanzania to seek advice on how FDRL
could take over in Rwanda, would only serve to deepen tensions between
the countries.
Be careful
"The statement by Mr Membe will worsen the relationship with our
neighbour Rwanda. It is important that national leaders be careful
about making such statements," said Mr Wenje.
Mr Membe acknowledged that relations between Rwanda and Tanzania were
strained because opportunists took advantage of the situation to fuel
diplomatic tensions between the countries.
However, Mr Membe reiterated that the Democratic Forces for the
Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) were Rwandans, who fled to eastern DRC
after the 1994 genocide while the Banyamulenge who formed the M23
rebel group that fought the DRC government for years, were Tutsi from
Rwanda.
Tanzania's recent decision to expel 3,500 Rwandese illegal immigrants
heightened the tension.
READ: Tanzania sends Rwandans home, relations sour further
http://www.google.ca/gwt/x?gl=CA&hl=en-CA&u=http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Kigali--Dar-face-off-again-over-DRC-conflict-/-/2558/2333010/-/qr5ogf/-/index.html&source=s&q=Dar,+Kigali+face+off+over+Congo+conflict...+again&sa=X&ei=dyWKU5GSEoqdyASv-ILIAQ&ved=0CCAQFjAA
--
SIBOMANA Jean Bosco
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