The Rwanda Movement for Republic and Democracy (MRD) learned with dismay of the comments made by Mr. Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa, on the subject of the war of aggression which is ravaging the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Also, not being able to tolerate any form of historical falsification, and in solidarity with our Congolese and Rwandan brothers who suffer on a daily basis the devastating effects of this unjust war, we would like to provide here a formal denial and invite all people and institutions in love with peace to do the same, in the name of humanity and its dignity.
Let us first recall that on this issue, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, after an in-depth examination, condemned in the strongest possible terms the aggression suffered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the hands of Rwanda, before describing the M23 as a terrorist movement.
Overall, the position of President Paul Kagame and his government remains isolated on the international scene.
Should we recall that since the Sovereign National Conference of 1990, the Rwandophone populations of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have fully recovered their Congolese nationality and all the civil and political rights that go with it ? Need we remind you that it is on the basis of this rehabilitation that the nationals of this population, both Hutus and Tutsis, have since been integrated at the highest level into the national army, the civil service and the country’s other institutions?
In truth, this war of aggression is only motivated by the desire for natural resources which abound in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr. Thabo Mbeki’s comments are all the more shocking as they tend to legitimize the ongoing massacres which have already claimed the life of 12 million victims since the invasion of Congo by the Rwandan army in 1996.
This is why MRD, the voice of the voiceless, which follows the daily tragedy experienced by the civilian populations of the Great Lakes region, stands up to denounce Mr. Thabo Mbeki’s declaration, which only benefits the aggressors of the DRC.
Done in Washington D.C
March 20, 2024
Mrs. Christine Coleman
MRD President
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