AroniSmart - Europe

France-Rwanda: Was Emmanuel Macron visit to Paul Kagame in Rwanda about Mozambique?

French President Emmanuel Macron Receives Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris on May 17, 2021

On May 26-27, 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Rwanda. During the visit, Emmanuel Macron said that France bore overwhelming responsibilities in 1990-1994 Rwandan civil war. Falling short of fully admitting responsiblities, questions were raised on why the sudden visit to Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame, after more than 25 years of overt diplomatic and economic conflicts. Hence a lingering question remained: why the sudden drive to improve the diplomatic relations after so many years of conflict? AfroAmerica Network sources close to the Rwandan and Mozambican governments have provided some information on the reason behind the rapprochement: the on-going civil war in Mozambique.

France-Africa Summit: Rwandan Paul Kagame warns the United States and The European Union against Giving him Lessons on Justice and Fairness and Rejects UN Mapping Report

French President Emmanuel Macron Receives Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris on May 17, 2021

On May 18, 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a France-Africa Economic Summit and International Conference on Sudan in Paris, France. Several African heads of state attended, including Rwandan dictator General Paul Kagame. In preparation for the summit, Rwanda and France have been working to renew diplomatic ties, after years of diplomatic conflicts, with the governments of the two countries blaming each other for the 1990s Rwandan ethnic massacres, genocides, and civil wars. On the sidelines,Rwandan Dictator Paul Kagame told the French media why he holds the grip on his country, and why no one has the right to criticize him for appaulling human rights violations, including systematic massacres and invasions and looting of other countries. He specifically warned the United States of America and the European Union, to stay away from criticising his government.

Francophonie: Rwandan Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General, Facing Strong Criticisms Over Alleged Mismanagement

Ms Louise Mushikiwabo

Rwandan Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of International Community of La Francophonie, is facing strong criticisms from governments of member states over alleged mismanagement. The criticisms have become louder as the IX Francophonie Games are planned in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), between August 19-28, 2022.

Roger Lumbala, An Alleged War Criminal and Former Leader of Rwandan Military Backed Militia, M23 Rebels and RCD-N, Arrested in France

Roger Lumbala (Left) and Francois Rucogoza in Kampala in March 2013

In a speech Bernard Membe then the Tanzanian Foreign Relations Minister told the parliament in Dar-Es-Salaam on May 27, 2014, that Rwandan backed rebels, M23, were Rwandan citizens, and were funded by the Rwandan government. Although know since M23 creation years earliers, It was the first time a government of an influential African countries had publicly accused the Rwandan government for creating and backing the Rwandan rebels. Rwandan backed M23 rebels were then committing systematic massacres of Congolese civilians and Rwandan refugees and responsible for rapes, disappearances, acts of genocide, and looting in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). One of the leaders of the criminal militia was Roger Lumbala (for more on M23 backgroung see AfroAmerica Network correspondents' reports, here) and AfroAmerica Network Archives (AfroAmerica Network Reports and AfroAmerica Network Archives)