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DRC and Rwandan Foreign Affairs Ministers meet in Kinshasa

Eoin Young / MONUC

03 sep. 07 - 18.14h

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Rwandan Minister for Foreign Affairs Charles Murigande met with his DRC counterpart Mbusa Nyamwisi in Kinshasa on 3 September 2007, as part of a three day visit to the capital, aimed at consolidating relations and discussing the presence of ex FAR-Interhamwe in the DRC, as well as the situation of dissident General Laurent Nkunda.

Mr. Nyamwisi said at a press conference in the DRC Foreign Affairs Ministry that the visit was part of a ‘bilateral relationship aimed at specific issues’, and was a ‘big event’ for the two countries and the sub region.

“The ex FAR Interhamwe constitute a problem, firstly for the Congolese, as they kill, rape and steal every day, but they are also a permanent menace for Rwanda. These meetings will allow us to find a response for the people and the government. We must prevent an escalation, because an escalation is possible,” he explained.

Mr. Murigande said that the ex FAR/ Interhamwe alias FDLR were “the root causes of much of the insecurity and instability” in the region.

“The ex FAR/ Interhamwe, alias FDLR remain militarily and politically very active in DRC and continue to constitute a serious threat to all of us. Their campaign of ethnic cleansing in eastern DRC…has created fertile ground for the emergence of complicating factors like the General Nkunda phenomenon,” he said.

“It is my ardent hope that this visit will lead to a renewed commitment by the government of the DRC to track down, disarm, demobilise and repatriate the ex- FAR/ Interhamwe alias FDLR,” he added.

He went on to say that it was also within the Rwandan government’s ‘unwavering commitment to peace’ that they accepted to facilitate a dialogue between the DRC government and General Nkunda last January.

“Unfortunately advocates of a military solution to General Nkunda’s phenomenon have wrecked the understandings that have been reached, and created the current heightened tensions in eastern DRC,” he explained.

“Rwanda remains ready to play a role in reviving dialogue between General Nkunda and the government of the DRC, if that is the wish of the belligerents. We think a peaceful solution to the crisis is possible, and indeed, preferable,” he concluded.
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