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Friday, 1 March 2013

Congo rebel group splits over firing of president


CONGO REBEL GROUP SPLITS OVER FIRING OF PRESIDENT

— Feb. 28 9:29 AM EST

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  • Congo Peace Plan
     

    FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2012 file photo, M23 rebels withdraw from the eastern Congo town of Goma. Eleven African countries signed a United Nations-drafted peace deal on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, to stabilize the troubled Central African country of Congo, where rebels allegedly backed by neighboring countries last year threatened to oust the government. Congo's neighbors collectively promised not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Congo or to tolerate or support armed groups. A U.N. report last year said that Rwanda and Uganda helped aid M23 rebels inside Congo. The two countries denied the allegations. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

GOMA, Congo (AP) — The president of the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo has been dismissed by the group's military leader over accusations that he is supporting Bosco Ntaganda, a wanted war criminal, said a spokesperson of the M23 Thursday.

"Jean-Marie Runiga gave Bosco Ntaganda financial support to recruit military personnel. He has also been compromising the peace process in order to protect Ntaganda. We say it is not acceptable and General Sultani Makenga dismissed him yesterday," said Bertrand Bisimwa, an M23 spokesman.

The move has split the M23 as a new group has been formed by those who still support Runiga, including Gen. Baudoin Ngaruye, the second-ranked military leader of the group.

"President Runiga was not dismissed, it was a unilateral decision made by Makenga," said Col. Seraphin Mirindi, who has been appointed spokesperson of the new M23 faction. "The army supports President Runiga and we do not want to follow Makenga who is conniving with the government in Kinshasa to destabilize us."

Runiga and Gen. Ngaruye in are presently in Kibumba, 12 kilometers (7 miles) from Goma airport, while Makenga is in Tchanzu, near the Ugandan border, said Mirindi. Ngaruye controls an estimated 2,000 men, twice as many as Makenga, said Mirindi.

The M23, which is allegedly backed by Rwanda, seized eastern Congo's strategic city of Goma in November 2012. The rebels withdrew from the capital of North Kivu a few weeks later after the Congolese government agreed to negotiate with them. However the rebels kept their positions just outside Goma, within 2 kilometers (1 mile) of the city's airport which is guarded by United Nations peacekeepers.

The M23 has fought against the Kinshasa government of President Joseph Kabila for nearly a year. The M23 is made up of soldiers and officers who defected from the Congolese army, complaining that the government did not implement the terms of a peace accord signed on March 23, 2009. The rebels take their name from the date of that agreements.

Tensions between the two M23 factions began when Gen. Makenga took the decision to withdraw the M23 troops from Goma after it conquered the city in November. While Makenga wanted to start negotiations with the government, President Jean-Marie Runiga wanted the M23 to keep control of Goma.

On Sunday, the feud deepened as fighting erupted in Rutshuru, the M23 stronghold, when an M23 major was assassinated in a local bar. Although the M23 officially said that the FDLR, a Hutu armed group, was responsible for the attack, other sources say the shooting was the result of an M23 internal dispute that degenerated into a firefight.

Col. Vianney Kazarama, a supporter of Makenga, said that Bosco Ntaganda is in Kibumba as well. "We are looking for a way to arrest him, he is a war criminal, and we ask for the international community's support," he said.

Col. Mirindi denied that Bosco Ntaganda is in Kimbuba.

Bosco Ntaganda is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The United States government recently placed a bounty of 5 million dollars for capturing him alive, according to diplomatic sources. Since its creation, the M23 has officially denied having Ntaganda in it ranks.

Makenga's faction appeared eager to assert its wish to resume negotiations with the Congolese government.

"Now we can peacefully go on with the negotiations since we are got rid of the person who was compromising them," said M23 spokesman Bertrand Bisimwa, speaking on the phone from Kampala where the negotiations are being held.

Runiga's faction on the other hand, appeared to be getting ready to fight again.

"If the Congolese army keeps on trying to occupy M23 positions, we will attack back and we will chase them as far as is necessary," said Col. Seraphin Mirindi.

Few government troops came back to Goma after the M23 left the town, leaving the city vulnerable to a return of the M23, despite the U.N. presence. The U.N. peacekeeping force, known as MONUSCO, has a limited mandate which only allows the peacekeepers to fight alongside the Congolese army or in the event of a direct physical threat on the population.

On Sunday, the 11 central Africa leaders and the U.N. signed an agreement to try to establish peace in eastern Congo. But the agreement had few concrete details on how this would be achieved.

Congo rebel group splits over firing of president


CONGO REBEL GROUP SPLITS OVER FIRING OF PRESIDENT

— Feb. 28 9:29 AM EST

You are here


  • Congo Peace Plan
     

    FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2012 file photo, M23 rebels withdraw from the eastern Congo town of Goma. Eleven African countries signed a United Nations-drafted peace deal on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, to stabilize the troubled Central African country of Congo, where rebels allegedly backed by neighboring countries last year threatened to oust the government. Congo's neighbors collectively promised not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Congo or to tolerate or support armed groups. A U.N. report last year said that Rwanda and Uganda helped aid M23 rebels inside Congo. The two countries denied the allegations. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

GOMA, Congo (AP) — The president of the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo has been dismissed by the group's military leader over accusations that he is supporting Bosco Ntaganda, a wanted war criminal, said a spokesperson of the M23 Thursday.

"Jean-Marie Runiga gave Bosco Ntaganda financial support to recruit military personnel. He has also been compromising the peace process in order to protect Ntaganda. We say it is not acceptable and General Sultani Makenga dismissed him yesterday," said Bertrand Bisimwa, an M23 spokesman.

The move has split the M23 as a new group has been formed by those who still support Runiga, including Gen. Baudoin Ngaruye, the second-ranked military leader of the group.

"President Runiga was not dismissed, it was a unilateral decision made by Makenga," said Col. Seraphin Mirindi, who has been appointed spokesperson of the new M23 faction. "The army supports President Runiga and we do not want to follow Makenga who is conniving with the government in Kinshasa to destabilize us."

Runiga and Gen. Ngaruye in are presently in Kibumba, 12 kilometers (7 miles) from Goma airport, while Makenga is in Tchanzu, near the Ugandan border, said Mirindi. Ngaruye controls an estimated 2,000 men, twice as many as Makenga, said Mirindi.

The M23, which is allegedly backed by Rwanda, seized eastern Congo's strategic city of Goma in November 2012. The rebels withdrew from the capital of North Kivu a few weeks later after the Congolese government agreed to negotiate with them. However the rebels kept their positions just outside Goma, within 2 kilometers (1 mile) of the city's airport which is guarded by United Nations peacekeepers.

The M23 has fought against the Kinshasa government of President Joseph Kabila for nearly a year. The M23 is made up of soldiers and officers who defected from the Congolese army, complaining that the government did not implement the terms of a peace accord signed on March 23, 2009. The rebels take their name from the date of that agreements.

Tensions between the two M23 factions began when Gen. Makenga took the decision to withdraw the M23 troops from Goma after it conquered the city in November. While Makenga wanted to start negotiations with the government, President Jean-Marie Runiga wanted the M23 to keep control of Goma.

On Sunday, the feud deepened as fighting erupted in Rutshuru, the M23 stronghold, when an M23 major was assassinated in a local bar. Although the M23 officially said that the FDLR, a Hutu armed group, was responsible for the attack, other sources say the shooting was the result of an M23 internal dispute that degenerated into a firefight.

Col. Vianney Kazarama, a supporter of Makenga, said that Bosco Ntaganda is in Kibumba as well. "We are looking for a way to arrest him, he is a war criminal, and we ask for the international community's support," he said.

Col. Mirindi denied that Bosco Ntaganda is in Kimbuba.

Bosco Ntaganda is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The United States government recently placed a bounty of 5 million dollars for capturing him alive, according to diplomatic sources. Since its creation, the M23 has officially denied having Ntaganda in it ranks.

Makenga's faction appeared eager to assert its wish to resume negotiations with the Congolese government.

"Now we can peacefully go on with the negotiations since we are got rid of the person who was compromising them," said M23 spokesman Bertrand Bisimwa, speaking on the phone from Kampala where the negotiations are being held.

Runiga's faction on the other hand, appeared to be getting ready to fight again.

"If the Congolese army keeps on trying to occupy M23 positions, we will attack back and we will chase them as far as is necessary," said Col. Seraphin Mirindi.

Few government troops came back to Goma after the M23 left the town, leaving the city vulnerable to a return of the M23, despite the U.N. presence. The U.N. peacekeeping force, known as MONUSCO, has a limited mandate which only allows the peacekeepers to fight alongside the Congolese army or in the event of a direct physical threat on the population.

On Sunday, the 11 central Africa leaders and the U.N. signed an agreement to try to establish peace in eastern Congo. But the agreement had few concrete details on how this would be achieved.

DFID - Rwanda: UK aid to go directly to poorest


Rwanda: UK aid to go directly to poorest

01 MARCH 2013

A £16 million package of development support to Rwanda will be channelled through aid agencies or directly to the poorest people, International Development Secretary Justine Greening announced today. None of this funding will be released to Rwanda as general budget support - meaning that it won't go through the Rwandan government.

Following a breach of agreed development assistance partnership principles, the UK government decided in November 2012 not to release £21 million of general budget support to the government of Rwanda.

At the time, Secretary of State Justine Greening initiated work on how to protect the poorest people in Rwanda through re-programming funds that were to be no longer disbursed as general budget support.

The support announced today will include direct payments for half a million people living in extreme poverty in Rwanda and the provision of almost two million textbooks for primary and secondary school children. It will also support aid agencies working in refugee camps.

Justine Greening said:

"The reprogrammed development assistance will be channelled through projects that directly reach and protect the poorest people in Rwanda. 
"In line with my earlier decision regarding the breach of the partnership principles, it is not appropriate to release any of these funds as general budget support."

This assistance will be channelled through independent aid agencies or directly to the intended beneficiaries.

The development projects will:

  • Provide cash grants or cash for work payments for 545,000 of the poorest people. The £9 million funding will be used to provide small regular payments directly to individuals to prevent them falling deeper into poverty.
  • Supply 1.8 million textbooks and supplementary readers to primary and secondary school pupils across Rwanda. The £4.4 million grant will be sent directly to the textbook suppliers.
  • Provide emergency relief for 20,000 refugees. Working through UNICEF and the UNHCR, the new £2 million programme will provide sleeping mats, blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene equipment, education equipment, tents, tarpaulin, water kits, pumps, therapeutic food and medicines at refugee camps in Rwanda over the next year.
  • Set up nine new UNICEF early child development centres. The £500,000 programme will help 1,000 of the most vulnerable children aged six or under access early childhood facilities, such as parenting skills, educational starter kits and health and nutrition awareness.
  • Set up VSO education support programmes in 270 schools across 18 districts. The three year programme will give teachers, school heads and pupils the advice they need to provide the best schooling possible.

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LAST UPDATED: 01 MAR 2013

DFID - Rwanda: UK aid to go directly to poorest


Rwanda: UK aid to go directly to poorest

01 MARCH 2013

A £16 million package of development support to Rwanda will be channelled through aid agencies or directly to the poorest people, International Development Secretary Justine Greening announced today. None of this funding will be released to Rwanda as general budget support - meaning that it won't go through the Rwandan government.

Following a breach of agreed development assistance partnership principles, the UK government decided in November 2012 not to release £21 million of general budget support to the government of Rwanda.

At the time, Secretary of State Justine Greening initiated work on how to protect the poorest people in Rwanda through re-programming funds that were to be no longer disbursed as general budget support.

The support announced today will include direct payments for half a million people living in extreme poverty in Rwanda and the provision of almost two million textbooks for primary and secondary school children. It will also support aid agencies working in refugee camps.

Justine Greening said:

"The reprogrammed development assistance will be channelled through projects that directly reach and protect the poorest people in Rwanda. 
"In line with my earlier decision regarding the breach of the partnership principles, it is not appropriate to release any of these funds as general budget support."

This assistance will be channelled through independent aid agencies or directly to the intended beneficiaries.

The development projects will:

  • Provide cash grants or cash for work payments for 545,000 of the poorest people. The £9 million funding will be used to provide small regular payments directly to individuals to prevent them falling deeper into poverty.
  • Supply 1.8 million textbooks and supplementary readers to primary and secondary school pupils across Rwanda. The £4.4 million grant will be sent directly to the textbook suppliers.
  • Provide emergency relief for 20,000 refugees. Working through UNICEF and the UNHCR, the new £2 million programme will provide sleeping mats, blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene equipment, education equipment, tents, tarpaulin, water kits, pumps, therapeutic food and medicines at refugee camps in Rwanda over the next year.
  • Set up nine new UNICEF early child development centres. The £500,000 programme will help 1,000 of the most vulnerable children aged six or under access early childhood facilities, such as parenting skills, educational starter kits and health and nutrition awareness.
  • Set up VSO education support programmes in 270 schools across 18 districts. The three year programme will give teachers, school heads and pupils the advice they need to provide the best schooling possible.

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LAST UPDATED: 01 MAR 2013

Thursday, 28 February 2013

BBC Gahuza: Bwana CONDO GERVAIS arasubiza TONY BLAIR

BBC-Gahuza
Ibiganiro bya 16:30
Kuwa Kane, tariki ya 28 Gashyantare 2013.


Tony Blair arahera ku umunota wa 16:15
Condo Gervais arahera ku umunota wa 21:49

-“The root cause of the Rwandan tragedy of 1994 is the long and past historical ethnic dominance of one minority ethnic group to the other majority ethnic group. Ignoring this reality is giving a black cheque for the Rwandan people’s future and deepening resentment, hostility and hatred between the two groups.”

-« Ce dont j’ai le plus peur, c’est des gens qui croient que, du jour au lendemain, on peut prendre une société, lui tordre le cou et en faire une autre ».

-“The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.”

-“I have loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore I die in exile.

-“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”

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