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- Nov 9, 2010
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Rwanda's Foreign Affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo.
Comments by French President François Hollande warning of citizen revolutions against African leaders who overstay in power provoked a bitter reaction from Rwanda, with the country's Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo accusing the French leader for lecturing his African counterparts rather than dialoguing on democracy.
Mrs Mushikiwabo, a vociferous critic of Paris, made the remarks during this week's 15th Francophonie Summit in Dakar, Senega, where she noted that France had chosen to lecture Africans on how to run their countries like a "parent shouting orders to his children".
While addressing the summit, Mr Hollande said that African leaders need to embrace democracy and avoid clinging onto power. He said African leaders need to be holding free and fair elections in their respective countries among other things, warning that the revolutions in countries like Tunisia and Burkina Faso should be a lesson to leaders who want to monopolise power.
Speaking to France 24 TV, Mrs Mushikiwabo hit back, saying that Mr Hollande's lectures were "inappropriate" and "patronising".
"It is inappropriate for the President to come for the Francophonie, not to have a dialogue with his fellow heads of state, but to give them orders on what to do in their respective countries. Something is not right here.
"Who decides the political future of Africans? I don't think it is Paris which makes such decisions for Africans, this should be clear.
The French President can give his opinion or advise, just like we can advise but to say 'I am here in Dakar to tell Africans that..' Is not right at all. This is 2014," Mrs Mushikiwabo said.
Term limits
Political observers say Mrs Mushikiwabo's remarks could be a warning to the French not to interfere in the events in Rwanda that will lead up to 2017, as the debate heats up on whether President Kagame should amend the constitution to remain in office or step down.
Rwanda is expected to be in the spotlight over the next two years as the world anxiously waits to see what will happen in the event President Paul Kagame decides to continue or step down.
In Kigali, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR), Rwanda's youngest opposition political party has, come out to say that it will not support any proposed plans to lift presidential term limits enshrined in the country's constitution.
With just over two years left for Rwanda to go to Presidential Polls in 2017, the debate as to whether the constitution will be amended to allow President Kagame another term in office remains discreet as the incumbent remains mum on whether he will go or stay.
Source: http://www.africareview.com/News/Rw.../2546708/-/format/xhtml/-/kj2pbv/-/index.html
Rwanda's Foreign Affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo.
Comments by French President François Hollande warning of citizen revolutions against African leaders who overstay in power provoked a bitter reaction from Rwanda, with the country's Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo accusing the French leader for lecturing his African counterparts rather than dialoguing on democracy.
Mrs Mushikiwabo, a vociferous critic of Paris, made the remarks during this week's 15th Francophonie Summit in Dakar, Senega, where she noted that France had chosen to lecture Africans on how to run their countries like a "parent shouting orders to his children".
While addressing the summit, Mr Hollande said that African leaders need to embrace democracy and avoid clinging onto power. He said African leaders need to be holding free and fair elections in their respective countries among other things, warning that the revolutions in countries like Tunisia and Burkina Faso should be a lesson to leaders who want to monopolise power.
Speaking to France 24 TV, Mrs Mushikiwabo hit back, saying that Mr Hollande's lectures were "inappropriate" and "patronising".
"It is inappropriate for the President to come for the Francophonie, not to have a dialogue with his fellow heads of state, but to give them orders on what to do in their respective countries. Something is not right here.
"Who decides the political future of Africans? I don't think it is Paris which makes such decisions for Africans, this should be clear.
The French President can give his opinion or advise, just like we can advise but to say 'I am here in Dakar to tell Africans that..' Is not right at all. This is 2014," Mrs Mushikiwabo said.
Term limits
Political observers say Mrs Mushikiwabo's remarks could be a warning to the French not to interfere in the events in Rwanda that will lead up to 2017, as the debate heats up on whether President Kagame should amend the constitution to remain in office or step down.
Rwanda is expected to be in the spotlight over the next two years as the world anxiously waits to see what will happen in the event President Paul Kagame decides to continue or step down.
In Kigali, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR), Rwanda's youngest opposition political party has, come out to say that it will not support any proposed plans to lift presidential term limits enshrined in the country's constitution.
With just over two years left for Rwanda to go to Presidential Polls in 2017, the debate as to whether the constitution will be amended to allow President Kagame another term in office remains discreet as the incumbent remains mum on whether he will go or stay.
Source: http://www.africareview.com/News/Rw.../2546708/-/format/xhtml/-/kj2pbv/-/index.html