Rwanda: Economic sanctions from Western Donors

**Roulette** · 21st July 2012 20:22

US State Department's Statement on Rwanda

In light of information that Rwanda is supporting armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Department of State has decided it can no longer provide Foreign Military Financing (FMF) appropriated in the current fiscal year to Rwanda, considering a restriction imposed by the 2012 appropriation act.

As a result, we will not obligate $200,000 in Fiscal Year 2012 FMF funds that were intended to support a Rwandan academy for non-commissioned officers. These funds will be reallocated for programming in another country.

We will continue to provide assistance to Rwanda to enhance its capacity to support peacekeeping missions.

The Department continues to assess whether other steps should be taken in response to Rwanda’s actions with respect to the DRC.

The United States government is deeply concerned about the evidence that Rwanda is implicated in the provision of support to Congolese rebel groups, including M23.

The United States has been actively engaged at the highest levels to urge Rwanda to halt and prevent the provision of such support, which threatens to undermine stability in the region.

Restraint, dialogue, and respect for each other’s sovereignty offer the best opportunity for Rwanda and the DRC, with the support of their partners, to resume the difficult work of bringing peace and security to the broader region.

We are encouraged by the ongoing high-level dialogue among the states of the Great Lakes region, and we join the Security Council in taking note with interest of the communiqué issued by the eleven member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) on July 12.

Developing a disciplined and unified army as part of a comprehensive security sector reform process remains critical to the stabilization of the DRC.

We support efforts to bring to justice alleged human rights abusers among the mutineers, including Bosco Ntaganda, who is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. We are concerned by reports that the mutineers have forcibly recruited child soldiers.

Hilary Fuller Renner
Spokesperson
Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State

Updates:

Economic sanction/Aid that has been officially withdrawn after the report:
- US$ 200,000 from the US (out of some 150Millions of the 2012 budget)
- US$ 6,1 Million from the Netherland (total amount for the 2012 budget)
- US$ 25 Million from the UK (out of some 118M expected for the 2012 budget)
- US$ 26 Million from Germany (for theperiod between 2012-2015)
- US$ 39 Million from the Scandinavian Board of the African Development Bank (2012 budget)

Legal sanction:/ Threats or actual legal actions that came as the result of the report
- Threat from the US government officials to send top Rwandan official including President Kagame to the ICC

**The Boss** · 21st July 2012 20:27

Is Rwanda seriously support the rebels?

**Roulette** · 21st July 2012 20:33

By The Boss

Is Rwanda seriously support the rebels?

There is a UN report that came out few weeks ago with irrefutable evidence that they were not only providing logistic and financial assistance but also enforcing the rebels by sending military troops. Of course Kagame has denied all these allegations but the report is there, with pictures, testimonies and other evidence of logistic and financial support.

**The Boss** · 21st July 2012 20:35

By Roulette

There is a UN report that came out few weeks ago with irrefutable evidence that they were not only providing logistic and financial assistance but also enforcing the rebels by sending military troops. Of course Kagame has denied all these allegations but the report is there, with pictures, testimonies and other evidence of logistic and financial support.

What is their game plan now?
overthrowing Kabila?

**Karikenye** · 21st July 2012 20:49

By The Boss

Is Rwanda seriously support the rebels?

You should have said " Does Rwanda seriously support the DRC rebels"?

**The Boss** · 21st July 2012 20:56

By Karikenye

You should have said " Does Rwanda seriously support the DRC rebels"?

excuse me my french lol

**UmkhontoweSizwe** · 21st July 2012 21:03

By The Boss

What is their game plan now?
overthrowing Kabila?

Yes, Kagame wants to put a puppet in DRC so he can have access to natural resources.

**Ndoa** · 21st July 2012 21:19

They wanna be David agst Goliath

**Jasusi** · 21st July 2012 21:27

By UmkhontoweSizwe

Yes, Kagame wants to put a puppet in DRC so he can have access to natural resources.

The Congolese government is weak. The only way Rwanda can guarantee her safety is to make sure Eastern Congo is in "friendly" hands and will not be used as a springboard for attacks on Rwanda. Eastern Congo has become a no man's land. I think it has more to do with security than minerals.

**Roulette** · 21st July 2012 21:28

By The Boss

What is their game plan now?
overthrowing Kabila?

The rebels want to cut the Kivu region (South Kivu, North Kivu and Maniema provinces) and make it into a republic. the region is mineral rich and the idea will be to reward their allies (in this case Rwanda) with mining contracts. In this case the US ans UK will have a share too because the mining companies are likely to be UK and/or US based.
Hii 200,000 ni less than 0,1% of the total UK and US aid to Rwanda (USD 350 M in total). this money is believed to be the driving engine of the entire balkanisation machine.

**Roulette** · 21st July 2012 21:31

By Jasusi

The Congolese government is weak. The only way Rwanda can guarantee her safety is to make sure Eastern Congo is in "friendly" hands and will not be used as a springboard for attacks on Rwanda. Eastern Congo has become a no man's land. I think it has more to do with security than minerals.

It has nothing to do with security, the UN report has established that the demobilised FDLR who are sent back to Rwanda are later expatriated by Rwanda and serve as backup troops for the M23. Some 50 demobilised FDLR were refused access to Rwanda for no reason at all. The claimed insecurity is used as an excuse to control the mining areas.
But you have a point: the Congolese government has failed to establish its authority in those territories.

**Baba Sangara** · 21st July 2012 23:21

USD 200K only? The USA is on this... Kagame and Museveni should be sent to the ICC and we'll have our peace in East Africa!

**Ndahani** · 21st July 2012 23:26

Kagame should know well in advance the consequences of financing the war in DRC against Kabila's government. My worry is that if not well taken care of, the whole progress in Rwanda could be reversed. Kagame should know his government has also had enemies and Kabila might also try to assist them in distabilizing Rwanda.

**Ndahani** · 21st July 2012 23:28

By the way, and on a serious note, Is Kabila the legitimate president of DRC? The Eastern DRC seem to be a kid without proper father to look after.

**Roulette** · 22nd July 2012 00:50

By Ndahani

Kagame should know well in advance the consequences of financing the war in DRC against Kabila's government. My worry is that if not well taken care of, the whole progress in Rwanda could be reversed. Kagame should know his government has also had enemies and Kabila might also try to assist them in distabilizing Rwanda.

This is not likely to happen with the current Congolese regime. It is a weak government with a very clientelist approach to the war. The Congolese army (FARDC) is ill disciplined and has manage to avoid direct confrontation with the rebels at several occasions. In an open war between the DRC and Rwanda, the DRC will lose not only the battle, but part of its territory too as Rwanda will now have an open motive to invade.

**FJM** · 22nd July 2012 00:51

By Roulette

There is a UN report that came out few weeks ago with irrefutable evidence that they were not only providing logistic and financial assistance but also enforcing the rebels by sending military troops. Of course Kagame has denied all these allegations but the report is there, with pictures, testimonies and other evidence of logistic and financial support.

The issue of Kivu-DRC and Rwanda is quite unsettling and I would not be surprised to see another EAC leader change his country's constitution!

**Askari Kanzu** · 22nd July 2012 01:11

Let's face it: At the end of the day, it is the African natural resources that are at stake here. The US has it's own agenda in the region. Since when did the US became the defender of human rights?

**Father of All** · 22nd July 2012 01:23

Since Kagame came to power he has embarked on many expansionist campaigns in DRC. Along with Museveni, Kagame proves to be another nightmare in the region despite all chest beating that he has transformed Rwanda. Kagame and Museveni goofed believing that their marriage with the US will never come to an end. Saddam Hussein was once the darling of US, even Osama bin Laden was once.
It is sad that even bigger and powerful East African countries such as Tanzania have never reckoned with the danger Kagame poses. If anyone wants to help Rwanda is to make sure that this stinking dictator is deterred by all means possible. We need to see DRC breathing the air of relief and peace after being ruined by maddog Mobutu Seseseko.

**Baba Sangara** · 22nd July 2012 06:09

By Father of All

Since Kagame came to power he has embarked on many expansionist campaigns in DRC. Along with Museveni, Kagame proves to be another nightmare in the region despite all chest beating that he has transformed Rwanda. Kagame and Museveni goofed believing that their marriage with the US will never come to an end. Saddam Hussein was once the darling of US, even Osama bin Laden was once.
It is sad that even bigger and powerful East African countries such as Tanzania have never reckoned with the danger Kagame poses. If anyone wants to help Rwanda is to make sure that this stinking dictator is deterred by all means possible. We need to see DRC breathing the air of relief and peace after being ruined by maddog Mobutu Seseseko.

What can TZ really do? ... The US temporarily blocks the UNSC from releasing the Experts' group report to save face... Imposes some paltry USD 200K Military aid restriction to Kagame with a lot of media fanfare... JK afanye nini?..

**Kigogo** · 22nd July 2012 06:23

Kagame ni muasi tu kama akina taylor ntashangaa sana asipopelekwa the hague

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