Tanzania na Rwanda zaanza kupatana kimya kimya

[MK254]

While the substantive issues between them remain unresolved, recent meetings between Kikwete and Kagame have raised optimism about dialogue. PHOTO | TEA GRAPHIC
By A JOINT REPORT, The EastAfrican

Posted Saturday, March 14 2015 at 11:29
IN SUMMARY

• The two leaders had not met in public since relations soured, with at least one of the leaders skipping a high level meeting that the other was expected to attend.

Rwanda and Tanzania have started to mend relations after almost two years of a cold war between the neighbours, which was threatening to undermine regional integration.

The strongest indication of the thawing of relations was when Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete honoured an invitation by Rwanda’s Paul Kagame to attend the recent 9th Northern Corridor Integration Projects summit in Kigali.

READ: Kikwete in Kigali for Northern Corridor meet as states pledge speed

President Kagame is believed to have extended the invitation to his counterpart during the EAC Heads of State Summit in Nairobi on February 16, where the two leaders appeared together in public for the first time in almost two years. At the same meeting, President Kikwete assumed chairmanship of the EAC for one year.

The two leaders had not met in public since relations soured, with at least one of the leaders skipping a high level meeting that the other was expected to attend.

While the substantive issues between the two countries remain unresolved, the presidential meetings have raised optimism that dialogue could see cordial relations restored.

“President Kikwete’s visit to Rwanda signals a rise in the prospects of resolving outstanding issues. There is an upcoming Central Corridor meeting that President Kagame has been invited to. If he does attend, that too will create even more opportunities for resolving the outstanding issues,” a well-placed source within the Kigali government told The EastAfrican on condition of anonymity.

“No dates have been set specifically for dialogue on outstanding issues,” he added.

Rwanda and Tanzania recalled their envoys last year and reappointed new ones, but processes to accredit them stalled as relations between the two countries reached their lowest point.

Rwanda recalled its ambassador, Ben Rugangazi, in May 2014, and appointed Eugene Kayihura as the new ambassador, but it was not until September 2014 that he presented his credentials, and not to President Kikwete but to Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Membe.

Dar on the other hand recalled Francis Mwaipaja as its ambassador in Kigali, and replaced him with Ali Idi Siwa, whose appointment was approved in May 2014, but who only presented his credentials days before President Kikwete’s visit.

Breaking with tradition, Mr Siwa did not present his credentials to President Kagame but to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Louise Mushikiwabo.

For mutual trust to be restored, officials in Kigali insist that Dar must address outstanding issues, in particular its alleged support for Rwanda’s exiled opposition and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

READ: Dar, Kigali face off over Congo conflict... again

“It is simplistic to assume that the outstanding issues between two countries can be resolved by one or two meetings. These countries have had major disagreements since Mwalimu Julius Nyerere left power, but they have just avoided confrontation,” a senior government official said, pointing out that tensions between the two countries escalated when Tanzania expelled 910 Rwandan refugees in 2003.

Kagame meets Kikwete, signalling bid to mend relations between countries - News - www.theeastafrican.co.ke

 

[TUJITEGEMEE]

Good move...! Let them keep it up!

 

[Ruge Opinion]

While the substantive issues between them remain unresolved, recent meetings between Kikwete and Kagame have raised optimism about dialogue. PHOTO | TEA GRAPHIC
By A JOINT REPORT, The EastAfrican

Posted Saturday, March 14 2015 at 11:29
IN SUMMARY

• The two leaders had not met in public since relations soured, with at least one of the leaders skipping a high level meeting that the other was expected to attend.

Rwanda and Tanzania have started to mend relations after almost two years of a cold war between the neighbours, which was threatening to undermine regional integration.

The strongest indication of the thawing of relations was when Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete honoured an invitation by Rwanda's Paul Kagame to attend the recent 9th Northern Corridor Integration Projects summit in Kigali.

READ: Kikwete in Kigali for Northern Corridor meet as states pledge speed

President Kagame is believed to have extended the invitation to his counterpart during the EAC Heads of State Summit in Nairobi on February 16, where the two leaders appeared together in public for the first time in almost two years. At the same meeting, President Kikwete assumed chairmanship of the EAC for one year.

The two leaders had not met in public since relations soured, with at least one of the leaders skipping a high level meeting that the other was expected to attend.

While the substantive issues between the two countries remain unresolved, the presidential meetings have raised optimism that dialogue could see cordial relations restored.

"President Kikwete's visit to Rwanda signals a rise in the prospects of resolving outstanding issues. There is an upcoming Central Corridor meeting that President Kagame has been invited to. If he does attend, that too will create even more opportunities for resolving the outstanding issues," a well-placed source within the Kigali government told The EastAfrican on condition of anonymity.

"No dates have been set specifically for dialogue on outstanding issues," he added.

Rwanda and Tanzania recalled their envoys last year and reappointed new ones, but processes to accredit them stalled as relations between the two countries reached their lowest point.

Rwanda recalled its ambassador, Ben Rugangazi, in May 2014, and appointed Eugene Kayihura as the new ambassador, but it was not until September 2014 that he presented his credentials, and not to President Kikwete but to Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Membe.

Dar on the other hand recalled Francis Mwaipaja as its ambassador in Kigali, and replaced him with Ali Idi Siwa, whose appointment was approved in May 2014, but who only presented his credentials days before President Kikwete's visit.

Breaking with tradition, Mr Siwa did not present his credentials to President Kagame but to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Louise Mushikiwabo.

For mutual trust to be restored, officials in Kigali insist that Dar must address outstanding issues, in particular its alleged support for Rwanda's exiled opposition and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

READ: Dar, Kigali face off over Congo conflict... again

"It is simplistic to assume that the outstanding issues between two countries can be resolved by one or two meetings. These countries have had major disagreements since Mwalimu Julius Nyerere left power, but they have just avoided confrontation," a senior government official said, pointing out that tensions between the two countries escalated when Tanzania expelled 910 Rwandan refugees in 2003.

Kagame meets Kikwete, signalling bid to mend relations between countries - News - www.theeastafrican.co.ke

That Tanzania supports FDLR was just an allegation made by Rwanda/Kagame. The allegation was refuted. So what outstanding issues do we have to address? If there are any 'outstanding issues' to address it is a public threat made by Kagame 'to deal with' Kikwete at the 'right time'. Has that time lapsed or yet to come? I just hope that Kikwete went to Kigali in his position as the current Chair of the EAC and not out of weakness.

 

[Aleyn]

Kagame anajua President ajaye Tanzania hawezi kumchekea kama JK alivomchekea.

 

[Geza Ulole]

MK254 ukiangalia vizuri hii habari imeandikwa kiuchonganishi kwa maana Kikwete ashakana ku-support FDLR lakini the East African kila kikicha wanalazimisha uhasma na cha ajabu wanaficha majina ya waandishi wa habari hii! Naomba Mungu the East African lisifunguliwe milele

 

[MK254]

Kagame anajua President ajaye Tanzania hawezi kumchekea kama JK alivomchekea.

Bana ee, fahamu kwenye siasa hamna mahasidi wala marafiki wa kudumu, wewe hapo unahangaika na chuki ila wale wanaongea yao.
Mimi nina uhakika tukiendelea hivi EAC itapaa pakubwa, hamna haja ya mizozano, hii inaogopesha hata wawekezaji wa kutoka nje.

 

[MOTOCHINI]

MK254 ukiangalia vizuri hii habari imeandikwa kiuchonganishi kwa maana Kikwete ashakana ku-support FDLR lakini the East African kila kikicha wanalazimisha uhasma na cha ajabu wanaficha majina ya waandishi wa habari hii! Naomba Mungu the East African lisifunguliwe milele

Umeliona hilo! kunawakati tumewahi jibisha na mtu mmoja mkenya, ktk ukurasa wa bbc kiswahili fb, nilimweleza huu mgogoro kiasifulani unakuzwa na magazeti tena kwajifanya wanatoa habari kwa kuingia ndani mno. NAKUUNGA MKONO THE EAST AFRICAN liishie kenya&rwanda

 

[MK254]

Umeliona hilo! kunawakati tumewahi jibisha na mtu mmoja mkenya, ktk ukurasa wa bbc kiswahili fb, nilimweleza huu mgogoro kiasifulani unakuzwa na magazeti tena kwajifanya wanatoa habari kwa kuingia ndani mno. NAKUUNGA MKONO THE EAST AFRICAN liishie kenya&rwanda

Waswahili nilisha wazoea kwa kulaumu kila kitu kutokana na mapungufu yao. Magazeti yanaandika yaliyomo, utake umeze, uchukie uteme...period. Hata mimi hukerwa na magazeti lakini nikiangalia kwa makini naona wao wanafanya kazi yao. Kama una mapungufu, yashughulikie, wachana na watu wa habari.

 

[Kiyoya]

Are you trying to say FDLR has an office at Kigali,excuse me please let me know,when are we expecting Mr genocider at Arusha

 

[Swat]

Aliona bora arekebishe mambo mapema kwani akiingia Lowasa mziki wake utakua mnene. Si mnakumbuka aliyosemaga pale Bungeni.

 

[Bavaria]

Bana ee, fahamu kwenye siasa hamna mahasidi wala marafiki wa kudumu, wewe hapo unahangaika na chuki ila wale wanaongea yao.
Mimi nina uhakika tukiendelea hivi EAC itapaa pakubwa, hamna haja ya mizozano, hii inaogopesha hata wawekezaji wa kutoka nje.

Huwezi kuishi bila wawekezaji?

 

[MK254]

Huwezi kuishi bila wawekezaji?

Ikiwa umeshindwa kuishi bila wafadhili sembuse wawekezaji??

 

[Bavaria]

Ikiwa umeshindwa kuishi bila wafadhili sembuse wawekezaji??

Nimekuuliza wewe dogo, huwezi kuishi bila wawekezaji?

 

[MALCOM LUMUMBA]

MK254;

While the substantive issues between them remain unresolved, recent meetings between Kikwete and Kagame have raised optimism about dialogue.
IN SUMMARY

• The two leaders had not met in public since relations soured, with at least one of the leaders skipping a high level meeting that the other was expected to attend.

Rwanda and Tanzania have started to mend relations after almost two years of a cold war between the neighbours, which was threatening to undermine regional integration.

Hivi nyie Makanjanja wa Mombasa;Pilipili msiyoila inawawasha nini?
Haya Tunawasubiri na ninyi mpatane na Al-Shabab.

 

[JustDoItNow]

Hawa wanyarwanda tuwa neutralize kwanza kwenye ukabila ndo baadaye wawe marafiki wetu. This is very important step.....

 

[Bukyanagandi]

MK254 ukiangalia vizuri hii habari imeandikwa kiuchonganishi kwa maana Kikwete ashakana ku-support FDLR lakini the East African kila kikicha wanalazimisha uhasma na cha ajabu wanaficha majina ya waandishi wa habari hii! Naomba Mungu the East African lisifunguliwe milele

Well said mkuu, na hiyo ndiyo inaendelea hapa - actually wenzetu hawa akili zao zote ziko zaidi kwenye masuala ya Bandari , hapa wanatumbukiza FDLR kama kisingizio tu cha kuendeleza uchonganishi; wana wasi wasi kwamba tukisha elewana na Rwanda basi mizigo ya Rwanda itakuwa inapakuliwa 'PORT OF SUDAN' hivyo kuwakosesha wateja.

 

[Buchanan]

Well said mkuu, na hiyo ndiyo inaendelea hapa - actually wenzetu hawa akili zao zote ziko zaidi kwenye masuala ya Bandari , hapa wanatumbukiza FDLR kama kisingizio tu cha kuendeleza uchonganishi; wana wasi wasi kwamba tukisha elewana na Rwanda basi mizigo ya Rwanda itakuwa inapakuliwa 'PORT OF SUDAN' hivyo kuwakosesha wateja.

Kusema kweli majirani zetu Wakenya wana roho mbaya sana!

 

[Kiyoya]

I thought you're pretty close to the truth but you were not. Can you add references to your claims. Paragraphs and verses. Please I think it would help your argument..

What kind references do you need brother.Just to remind you- Mr Kikwete told the Rwandese genocider to negotiate peace with FDLR.Ain't heard any where that statement withdrawn!

 

[JokaKuu]

magaidi wa M23 waliojisalimisha baada ya kupigwa na JWTZ wakilindwa na askari wa Congo.

cc jMali, MK254, MUKAMASIMBA, murutongore, mng'ato, JustDoItNow

 

[mng'ato]

hivi kumbe na M23 kilikuwa ni kikundi cha kigaidi,hebu nionyeshe marekani ikisema kile ni kikundi cha kigaidi hebu check fdlr" The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR, is one of the most powerful armed groups operating in eastern Congo. Formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandangenocide, the FDLR is on the U.S. State Department list of terrorist organizations." jMali