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- Year: 2012
- Length: 6:05 minutes (5.58 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
The UN General Assembly has approved non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council for five new countries, including Rwanda. But the vote comes after a leaked UN report found that the government of Rwanda continues to support armed rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a conflict that threatens to destabilize the region. According to Reuters, a confidential report from the UN Security Council's Group of Experts says that "Rwandan officials coordinated the creation of the rebel movement as well as its major military operations." The report also cites Uganda's role in supporting the rebels, known as the M23 movement that has been fighting against government forces in the North Kivu province. Human Rights Watch accuses M23 rebels of war crimes, including summary executions, rapes and forced recruitment and says that Rwandan officials could be complicit.
The Rwandan government has denied reports of the conflict. According to the Rwandan News Agency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Louise Mushikiwabo called the UN report "hijacked for political reasons" and criticized the lead expert, Steven Hege. She said Rwanda is committed to providing a lasting solution to the crisis. Speaking to FSRN at the UN recently, Mushikiwabo said the M23 movement is an indication of a deeper problem in the region.
"I think nobody would support any rebel group, nobody would support mutiny, but it's important to address what creates mutiny. Rwanda's view has always been and we've shared it, that the mutiny has to stop, but we're probably better off looking at what would causes this mutiny. It's not the first conflict, it's not the first rebel group, there have been multiple groups, it's become cyclical. So as much as we must absolutely pacify the eastern Congo right now and we're right there in the neighborhood, we share history, we share communities, we want for stability to last."
That's Rwanda's Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Louise Mushikiwabo, speaking to FSRN at the UN.
Claude Gatabuke, is a human rights advocate and survivor of the Rwandan genocide. He's also the executive director for the African Great Lakes Action Network. He called the leaked report further evidence of the relationship between the Rwandan military and the rebels. Rwanda is scheduled to begin its two year term on the UN Security Council in January 2013. The four other countries that will join the council as non-permanent members are: Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg and the Republic of Korea.
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