Cicero
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 20, 2016
- 2,924
- 3,073
Rwanda was yesterday accused of fomenting trouble in fellow East African Community (EAC) member state Burundi and worsening the turmoil which has claimed hundreds of lives.
Speakers at the public hearing of a petition filed by human rights groups accused Rwanda of “having a hand” in the conflict which has already impacted on regional integration programmes in the bloc.
“Rwanda is a party to the conflict,” said Mr Jacques Bigirimana, the president of FNL party, when the second round of hearing of the petition involving the government and political parties aligned to it started at 3pm, five hours behind schedule.
He said although the warring parties in Burundi were keen on national dialogue in a bid to end the political crisis, the country was under siege from what he called “destabilisation forces sponsored by Rwanda”.
Mr Bigirimana told a conflict resolution committee of the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala), where the petition was filed last November, claims of extra-judicial killings blamed on security forces had been blown out of proportion. The killings, mainly in and around the capital Bujumbura, have been blamed on Imbonerakure, a youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD party headed by President Pierre Nkurunziza.
The FNL leader’s remarks were echoed by Mr Jean Dieu Mutabazi, president of another political party Radebu. He said Rwanda was supporting rebels against the current government in Burundi.
Allegations directed at Kigali appeared to divide members of the Eala committee hearing the petition at the EAC headquarters as well as other legislators who have convened in Arusha for a routine session expected to commence today
Some wanted to voice their views but were discouraged by the chairperson of the committee, Mr Abdullah Mwinyi from Tanzania, who chaired the session.
Rwanda comes under fire at hearing
Kwa jinsi hii huo umoja wa nchi za Afrika Mashariki utawezekana kweli?
Cc mchambawima1 jMali MK254 Gezaulole JokaKuu
Speakers at the public hearing of a petition filed by human rights groups accused Rwanda of “having a hand” in the conflict which has already impacted on regional integration programmes in the bloc.
“Rwanda is a party to the conflict,” said Mr Jacques Bigirimana, the president of FNL party, when the second round of hearing of the petition involving the government and political parties aligned to it started at 3pm, five hours behind schedule.
He said although the warring parties in Burundi were keen on national dialogue in a bid to end the political crisis, the country was under siege from what he called “destabilisation forces sponsored by Rwanda”.
Mr Bigirimana told a conflict resolution committee of the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala), where the petition was filed last November, claims of extra-judicial killings blamed on security forces had been blown out of proportion. The killings, mainly in and around the capital Bujumbura, have been blamed on Imbonerakure, a youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD party headed by President Pierre Nkurunziza.
The FNL leader’s remarks were echoed by Mr Jean Dieu Mutabazi, president of another political party Radebu. He said Rwanda was supporting rebels against the current government in Burundi.
Allegations directed at Kigali appeared to divide members of the Eala committee hearing the petition at the EAC headquarters as well as other legislators who have convened in Arusha for a routine session expected to commence today
Some wanted to voice their views but were discouraged by the chairperson of the committee, Mr Abdullah Mwinyi from Tanzania, who chaired the session.
Rwanda comes under fire at hearing
Kwa jinsi hii huo umoja wa nchi za Afrika Mashariki utawezekana kweli?
Cc mchambawima1 jMali MK254 Gezaulole JokaKuu
