Oxford University distances itself from inviting President Paul Kagame to give him an award.
The office of the Dean of the Said Business School, University of Oxford has distanced itself from extending an invitation to President Kagame and having any intention of granting him an award for they are aware that he is a controversial figure.The office of the Dean has clarified that the"Oxford Africa Business Conference that Paul Kagame is to address is a student-led event, held by the Oxford Business Network for Africa, a student organisation. The Dean's Office also clarified that the "award would be given by the students association and not the university". The event is about economic growth in Africa and Paul Kagame was to receive an award called 'A distinction of Honour for African Growth.
The clarification from the Office of the Dean is a response to serious concerns raised by communities from the Great Lakes region and friends of Africa who considered the invitation not only as a stab in the back of millions of people who lost their loved ones at the hands of Paul Kagame's army or through his proxy wars but also as an insult to African dignity to present a person accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity as a beacon for African economic development.
It is well documented that Paul Kagame is heavily involved in wars that have caused the death of more than 6 million people in the Great Lakes, the highest humanitarian disaster since the 2nd world war and his army has been accused of having committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and potentially acts of genocide. A UN experts report confirmed that that the Rwandan government was complicit in war crimes for arming and providing logistical support to the murderous M23 guerrillas in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. This report led to the suspension of aid from key allies including the UK and the US.
The office of the Dean has made it crystal clear that "this invitation and President Kagame's presence in the Saïd Business School does not imply any endorsement by the School or the University of his views or actions". It pointed out that it was aware Paul Kagame was a "controversial figure" and has suggested that his presence was an" opportunity for those present to challenge him as appropriate".
The revelations are likely to be a big blow to the public relations campaign to reverse the mounting criticism of Paul Kagame and his regime. The Sunday Times had revealed that Portland, a London public relations company run by Tim Allan, a key adviser when Blair was premier, had met Rwandan officials in an attempt to win a contract for "country branding" said to be worth more than £1m[1]
It would be interesting to know if the students did not fall prey to public relations firms, the Rwandan High Commission or any other agents in the rebranding of the tarnished image of President Kagame. The Oxford University should learn from the embarrassment suffered by the London School of Economics due to its relations with Kaddafi regime. It is dealing with a worse despot than Kaddafi[2].
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