The Trudeau Government’s Favourite African Dictator, Paul Kagame, Just Killed Unarmed Civilians — Again

Open Letter to The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, The Prime Minister Of Canada

February 24, 2018

Dear Prime Minister, I write this letter to inform you that your government’s favorite African dictator, Paul Kagame, has just performed what he is widely known for — killing unarmed civilians.

Prime Minister, before I address this latest round of violence by the Kagame regime, let me concede that I am still puzzled by what might have motivated your government to embrace this particular dictatorship in the first place.

The most embarrassing picture — when a Canadian defense minister hosted his Rwandan counterpart, James Kabarebe, who is indicted for crimes against humanity.

You will recall that your Minister of National Defence, Harjit Sajjan, gave his Rwandan counterpart, James Kabarebe, the red carpet on the Canadian soil on November 16, 2017. Kabarebe stands accused of massacring innocent Rwandan civilians as well as foreign nationals during the Rwandan Civil War of the 1990s. Kabarebe was also the chief architect of the invasion and occupation of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Under his command, an estimated 5 million people perished in DRC. The UN 2010 Mapping Report would later describe this episode as follows:

”The majority of the victims were children, women, elderly people and the sick, who were often undernourished and posed no threat to the attacking forces…Thus the apparent systematic and widespread attacks described in this report reveal a number of inculpatory elements that, if proven before a competent court, could be characterized as crimes of genocide.”

By hosting Kabarebe, Canada became the only Western democracy in which the Rwandan defense minister can set foot — the others would instead arrest him.

On November 20, 2017, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, hosted the Rwandan minister of environment, Vincent Biruta. McKenna embarrassingly stated that “Canada and Rwanda have become great partners.” The two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding which, according to McKenna ”reaffirms our close friendship.”

Dear Prime Minister, if further evidence were needed for establishing the fact that Canada should not embrace Kagame’s regime, the latter just provided it. Between 20–23 February 2018, Rwanda’s security forces killed an unknown number of refugees who were protesting for better conditions. Here is how the United Nations High Commission for Refugees explained the situation:

”UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is urging authorities in Rwanda to ensure safety and protection for refugees after protests led to the tragic deaths of at least five refugees and the injury of many others…We are shocked and disturbed at loss of refugee lives…This tragedy should have been avoided and disproportionate use of force against desperate refugees is not acceptable. UNHCR calls on authorities to refrain from further use of force and to investigate the circumstances of this tragic incident.”

Prime Minister, I have no clue about your foreign policy towards Africa and what might be motivating your government to embrace a brutal regime that kills unarmed people. Perhaps your ministers were misled or are still learning on the job. Be that as it may, the behavior of the Kagame regime does not in any shape or form fit Canadian values.

For God’s sake, stop embracing a dictator who kills people. We call upon you to instead denounce the death of unarmed refugees.

Yours Sincerely,

David Himbara

Toronto, Canada

UNHCR shocked over reports of refugee deaths in Rwanda

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Cécile Pouilly – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is urging authorities in Rwanda to ensure safety and protection for refugees after protests led to the tragic deaths of at least five refugees and the injury of many others – including the members of the police force – on Thursday. We are shocked and disturbed at loss of refugee lives.

Around 700 Congolese refugees from Kiziba refugee camp were demonstrating outside the UNHCR field office in Karongi, in western Rwanda. The protests, ongoing since February 20, were related to food ration cuts that have added to the refugees’ sense of despair and lack of long-term prospective. Police was reported to have used tear gas to disperse the protestors, after attempts to resolve the situation had failed. Clashes were reported before the police fired shots at angry protestors.

We regret that our continued appeals for maintaining calm and restraint were not considered. This tragedy should have been avoided and disproportionate use of force against desperate refugees is not acceptable. UNHCR calls on authorities to refrain from further use of force and to investigate the circumstances of this tragic incident.

UNHCR appeals to refugee leaders to show a sense of responsibility to avoid further confrontation and again urges them to respect laws and seek solutions to all their grievances through peaceful negotiations.

Underfunding has severely affected humanitarian operations in Rwanda, now with deadly consequences. UNHCR’s 2018 appeal for US$98.8 million to support refugees in Rwanda is only is 2 percent funded.

Kiziba refugee camp hosts over 17,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Over 173,000 refugees from the DRC and Burundi live in six camps in Rwanda.

For more information on this topic, please contact:

• In Kigali, Daniela Ionita , ionita@unhcr.org , +250 78 831 0125
• In Geneva, Babar Baloch, baloch@unhcr.org, +41 79 513 95 49

Refugees Camp Out at UN Office in Rwanda, Demand Better Conditions

WASHINGTON / KARONGI, RWANDA — 

Three thousand to 4,000 Congolese refugees were camped out Wednesday in front of a U.N. office in western Rwanda, demanding better living conditions at their camp.

The refugees refused to go after marching out of the Kiziba camp on Tuesday and protesting in front of the office of UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, in the Karongi district.

The army used live ammunition to break up the protest. The protesters said soldiers shot at them and wounded at least two people.

Rwanda has launched an investigation into what sparked the protest.

In a statement, Jean Claude Rwahama, director of refugee affairs in the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, said "refugee representatives have been meeting camp management, local authorities, as well as U.N. partner agencies to discuss the cause of Tuesday's incident."

Rwandan officials blamed the refugees for provoking the violence.

"It is unfortunate that some refugees resorted to violence even as local authorities and security personnel were working to find a solution to their grievances," said Rwahama.

Earlier Wednesday, a UNHCR official told refugees there was nothing the agency could do for them unless they returned to the camp. He said the issue was now in the hands of the government.

Congolese refugees' protest in Rwanda turns violent

 The United Nations refugee agency says protests by Congolese refugees in Rwanda have turned violent with several people injured and that police have fired into the air to disperse them.

Tensions are high over cuts in food rations. U.N. official Daniela Ionita says refugees refuse to return to Kiziba camp in western Rwanda despite pleas from government officials.

The demonstrations demanding better living conditions or relocation began Tuesday.

Rwanda hosts over 17,000 refugees from Congo, most of them women and children.

The World Food Program cut rations by 25 percent in January because of low funding and further cuts are possible.

Jean Claude Rwahama, Rwanda's director of refugee affairs, confirms that several people have been injured in the unrest and says authorities and camp representatives are meeting to pursue solutions.

Impunzi z'abanyekongo mu Rwanda zanze kuva kw'izima

Impuzi z'abanyekongo mu Rwanda zagiye kwigaragambya kuri UNHCR polisi y'u Rwanda ibarasamo.
https://youtu.be/hbm4iT1Pu5c