USA: Statement on Situation in Eastern Congo

http://m.state.gov/md213488.htm

Statement on Situation in Eastern Congo

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Press Statement

Marie Harf 
Deputy SpokespersonOffice of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

August 25, 2013

---

The United States is alarmed by the escalating fighting between the M23 armed group and the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) in eastern Congo. We condemn the actions of the M23, which have resulted in civilian casualties, attacks on the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO), and significant population displacements. We are also concerned by reports of shelling across the Rwandan border, including credible UN reports that the M23 has fired into Rwandan territory. We call on the M23 to immediately end the hostilities, lay down their arms, and disband, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

We commend the actions of MONUSCO to protect civilians in and around Goma. Attacks against UN installations and personnel are unacceptable. We are deeply concerned about evidence of increasing ethnic tensions in Goma and call on all parties to avoid any actions that could exacerbate such tensions.

We urgently call on the DRC and Rwandan governments to exercise restraint to prevent military escalation of the conflict or any action that puts civilians at risk. We reiterate our call for Rwanda to cease any and all support to the M23 and to respect DRC's territorial integrity, consistent with U.N. Security Council resolutions and its commitments under the Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework. We also call on the DRC to take all prudent steps to protect civilians and to take precautions that FARDC shells do not inadvertently land in Rwandan territory. We urge MONUSCO and the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism to promptly and thoroughly investigate charges of cross-border shelling. We urge all parties to facilitate access for humanitarian organizations assisting populations in need.

The United States fully supports the Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework signed by the DRC, Rwandan, and neighboring governments in February 2013 as the basis for a political dialogue to resolve the longstanding conflict in the region. We also believe any political settlement of the conflict must include accountability for human rights atrocities committed by leaders of the M23 and other armed groups, including the FDLR. The United States stands ready to consider further targeted sanctions against the leaders of the M23 and other armed groups and those who support them.

PRN: 2013/2032

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USA: Statement on Situation in Eastern Congo

http://m.state.gov/md213488.htm

Statement on Situation in Eastern Congo

Back to previous page 

Press Statement

Marie Harf 
Deputy SpokespersonOffice of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

August 25, 2013

---

The United States is alarmed by the escalating fighting between the M23 armed group and the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) in eastern Congo. We condemn the actions of the M23, which have resulted in civilian casualties, attacks on the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO), and significant population displacements. We are also concerned by reports of shelling across the Rwandan border, including credible UN reports that the M23 has fired into Rwandan territory. We call on the M23 to immediately end the hostilities, lay down their arms, and disband, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

We commend the actions of MONUSCO to protect civilians in and around Goma. Attacks against UN installations and personnel are unacceptable. We are deeply concerned about evidence of increasing ethnic tensions in Goma and call on all parties to avoid any actions that could exacerbate such tensions.

We urgently call on the DRC and Rwandan governments to exercise restraint to prevent military escalation of the conflict or any action that puts civilians at risk. We reiterate our call for Rwanda to cease any and all support to the M23 and to respect DRC's territorial integrity, consistent with U.N. Security Council resolutions and its commitments under the Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework. We also call on the DRC to take all prudent steps to protect civilians and to take precautions that FARDC shells do not inadvertently land in Rwandan territory. We urge MONUSCO and the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism to promptly and thoroughly investigate charges of cross-border shelling. We urge all parties to facilitate access for humanitarian organizations assisting populations in need.

The United States fully supports the Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework signed by the DRC, Rwandan, and neighboring governments in February 2013 as the basis for a political dialogue to resolve the longstanding conflict in the region. We also believe any political settlement of the conflict must include accountability for human rights atrocities committed by leaders of the M23 and other armed groups, including the FDLR. The United States stands ready to consider further targeted sanctions against the leaders of the M23 and other armed groups and those who support them.

PRN: 2013/2032

[This is a mobile copy of Statement on Situation in Eastern Congo]

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PEREZIDA PAUL KAGAME MU NAMA N'ABAKURU B'INGABO YATAYE UMUTWE

http://www.inyenyerinews.org/politiki/perezida-paul-kagame-mu-nama-nabakuru-bingabo-yataye-umutwe/

PEREZIDA PAUL KAGAME MU NAMA N'ABAKURU B'INGABO YATAYE UMUTWE

August 25, 2013 by Rwema IT Webmaster Leave a Comment

 

Perezida Paul Kagame mu nama na bakuru b'Ingabo nyuma yogupfusha ingabo zitagira ingano muri DRC, Perezida yataye umutwe kubera ibibazo bituruka hirya no hino birimo uruzinduko rwa Canada rwahagaritswe ndetse niyirukanwa ry' Impunzi zari zituye muri Tanzania, Paul Kagame yibaza ko bibangamiye umutungo w'igigihugu.

Perezida Paul Kagame yavuze ko atazashyira amaboko hasi atarwanye, ubundi yavuze ko atazategerereza umwanzi I Rwanda, ahubwo ko azajya asanga umwanzi hakurya y'u Rwanda. U Rwanda ruri mu kangaratete bitewe nuko ntawutwumva muriki gihe, ati ibintu turimo biragoranye kuko Tanzania iramenesha abanyarwanda ndetse naberekeza Uganda bakimirwa, ibyo bikaba bivuga ko bagomba gutaha mu Rwanda, ati inzara ishobora kuvuka muribi bibazo turimo irahangayikishije. Nyakubahwa Perezida wa Repubulika ibi yabibwiraga abayobozi bakuru b'Ingabo bigaragara ko bananiwe kandi batabona neza icyerekezo cy'iyi ntambara, nimpamvu ituma barwana. Kagame yababwiye mu magambo akarishye ko bagomba kwemera gutanga ikiguzi cyose bibasaba, ariko umugi wa Goma ugafatwa. Umwe mu bayobozi b'Ingabo yagize ati afande umugi wa Goma wuzuye ingabo z'Amahanga kandi zifite ibikoresho bikomeye, ati cyereka natwe nyakubahwa utwemereye gukoresha indege. Iyo Kagame avuze ikiguzi, abanyarwanda bagombye guhita bumva icyo ashaka. Ubundi Undi mu Basilikare bakuru yavuze ko bateye Goma hapfa abaturage benshi ati kandi kurwana twiyita M23 ntibyoroshye ninayo mpamvu dupfusha abasilikare benshi, ati Nyakubahwa nifuza ko twarwana nabo kumugaragaro kuko nimpamvu irahari kuko aduyi ari hakurya haliya kandi twese turabizi.

Ubundi Perezida Paul Kagame yagaragaje gutega amatwi bidasanzwe, kuburyo yamaze akanya atavuga yumva abasilikare gusa, ariko bamwe mu ba jenerali nta nubwo bumva icyatumye Paul Kagame ahahamuka cyane akagira impungenge. akimara kumva ko Congo yamaze kusinyana amasezerano y'ubufatanye mu bya gisirikari na Angola ndetse na Afrika y'epfo, yahise akubita agatima ku ntambara ya 1998, uburyo ingabo za Angola zabakubitiye i Kitona zikabanoza. Afite ubwoba rero ko nubu zigiye kuza, kandi akaba aziko ikibuga cy'indege cya Goma kizakoreshwa cyane mu gutwara ibikoresho n'abasirikari.

Ikibazo cyo gufata Goma cyatwaye igihe kinini muri iyo nama, ariko impungenge zikomeye ni ukumenya ikizakurikira? Hari umujenerali tutari buvuge izina kubera impamvu z'umutekano we, wabajije ikibazo mu ijwi ryo hejuru agira ati:  » Goma twayifata, alright, what next? Are we going to Kinshasa too »?

Iki kibazo rero cyuko bazifata bamaze kwinjira Goma nicyo cyakuruye umwuka mubi nuburakari kuri Kagame, ubwo yari amaze kubona ko ingabo zitari tayari kurwana igihe kirekire muri congo!!

Yahise afata ijambo yitsa umwuka nkuko akunda kubigenza iyo yabishe, agira ati « reka mbabwire, igihugu cyubikiriwe n'umwanzi ukomeye kandi njyewe nkuko nanabibabwiye kuva cyera, sinshaka kurekura igihugu ngo gisubire mu maboko y'imbwa »!! (Ubwo nyine  imbwa ziba zivugwa ni abahutu) yakomeje agira ati: « ndasaba buri wese ko agomba kugenda akibaza akanatekereza vuba cyane ku kigomba gukorwa, kandi buri wese aze kumenyesha ku giti cye ambwire umwanzuro yafashe, sinshaka za mvugo zanyu zidasobanutse aho tuba twicaye umwe yavuga ikintu, undi agahubuka hirya, ngo nanjye nuko mbibona, oya. Buri wese aze kumpamagara »!!

Urebye inama yarangiye nta mwanzuro ugaragara ufashwe uretse ko bagomba gutegereza no gukurikiza amabwiriza yose ari buve ku mugaba mukuru w'ikirenga ari nawe waruyoboye iyo nama!!! Mu nama havuzwe no ku kibazo cya General Makenga wanze kongera kwigaragaza, kubera arwaye cyane, ariko ikibitera cyane nuko nyuma y'ifatwa rya Bosco Ntaganda, yavumbuye umugambi wo kumuhitana agasimbuzwa na Laurent Nkunda, kugira ngo barebe ko bashobora kwinjiza abanyamurenge mu ntambara, doreko kuri ubu bitandukanyije nayo!! Laurent Nkunda ngo afite inshuti nyinshi mu Banyamulenge, ariko se ibyo Kagame yamukoreye akeka ko izi nshuti zitabibona!

Ubu Gen Makenga nubwo yohererezwa ubufasha bwose, ariko nta musirikare w'u Rwanda wemerewe kwegera ibirindiro bye kubera kutabashira amakenga! Ikindi nuko bahise bemeza ko hagomba koherezwa abandi basirikari bo gufasha ku rugamba i Kibumba. Amakuru agera ku nyenyeri aravuga ko abo basirikari bagera ku 2000 baraye bambutse, bakaba bayobowe na LT Col Joseph Karegire. Ikibazo cy'abasirikari baguye ku rugamba cyabaye nkikirengagizwa, ariko abakomeretse bo ubu bafite ibibazo bikomeye cyane. Aho bashyizwe mu bitaro nta bitanda bihagije, kubera ko ari benshi cyane, nta n'amaraso yo gutera abakomeretse cyane bagatakaza amaraso menshi.

Andi makuru aravuga ko, urugendo Paul Kagame yari yateguye kugirira k'umugabane w'Amerika, rwagombaga gutangira mu cyumweru gitaha, rwajemo kidobya, kubera ko igihugu cya Canada kitamushaka ku butaka bwacyo. Ubwo igisigaye n'ukureba uko yarwana intambara ya Congo, agategereza tariki ya 9 Nzeli, 2013, ubwo azajya mu nama rusange y'umuryango w'abibumbye izabera i New York.

I Goma naho, abakozi b'abongereza bahakoreraga bazinze utwagushye barataha, kubera ikibazo cy'umutekano muke uharangwa, cyane cyane ibisasu bimaze iminsi bihaturikira birashwe n'ingabo z'u Rwanda. Ngayo nguko, ibya FPR na Paul Kagame bikomeje kuba urusobe.

 

Filed Under: POLITIKI

And Bill Clinton, "the genocider who just might get away" http://sfbayview.com/2010/bill-clinton-the-genocider-who-just-might-get-away/, says he's willing to "make special allowances for Rwanda", because it is so "organized" (fascist) and it has established "the rule of law" (Kagame's).

http://www.anngarrison.com/audio/2013/08/24/459/congo-and-rwanda-trade-accusations-of-cross-border-weapons-fire

Congo and Rwanda trade accusations of cross border weapons fire

Submitted by Ann Garrison on Sat, 08/24/2013 - 22:09

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• stop
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00:00

03:39

KPFA Evening News, 08.24.2013

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda trade accusations of cross border weapons fire in North Kivu Province. The UN Force Intervention Brigade says it's going on the offensive to help the Congolese army move Rwanda's M23 from their positions, but Goma residents, suspicious of UN motives, burn tires and chant anti-UN Mission slogans.

 

Transcript: 

KPFA Evening News Anchor David Rosenberg: Fighting has resumed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's North Kivu Province, with both Rwanda and theAngry residents carry the body of a person killed hours earlier when a rocket landed on a home in Goma. Congo blamed it on neighboring Rwanda,whose command of the M23 has been documented by UN investigators. Photo: Alain WandimoyiDemocratic Republic of the Congo accusing each other of weapons fire across the border between the two countries. KPFA's Ann Garrison has the story.

 

KPFA/Ann: On Thursday, a Congolese spokesman told the BBC that shells landing in the border town of Goma were coming from Rwanda, and today he accused Rwanda of firing a rocket that landed inside the border town of Goma and killed three people. The Rwandan army said that Congolese mortar fire had landed in villages along its border.

 

A UN spokesman said that the UN Force Intervention Brigade had undertaken its first offensive operation to support the Congolese army in displacing the M23 militia from their positions, but the Associated Press reported that a U.N. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that it was a defensive operation.   

 

Many citizens of Goma distrust the UN's motives, and believe it to be standing in the way of the Congolese army. The AP reported that roads through the city of Goma were blocked today by burning tires and crowds chanting anti-UN Mission slogans.  

 

The 2012 UN Group of Experts report identified both Rwanda and Uganda, but most of all Rwanda, as the aggressors behind the M23 militia, but Rwandan President Paul Kagame still has his defenders, most notably former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, evangelical megachurch Pastor Rick Warren, and former President Bill Clinton. On August 13th, after visiting Rwanda, Bill Clinton told the BBC that he was willing to make special allowances for Rwanda.

 

Bill Clinton: I support a free press in Rwanda. I don't support the repression of journalists. I don't think human rights should be violated in the Congo to protect the territorial integrity of Rwanda, but I suppose I do make more allowances for a government that has produced as much progress as that one has, and has been well-organized and otherwise had the rule of law, and so, that's the way it is. Very few situations are perfect.

Despite many years of UN investigations and other reports documenting Rwandan President Paul Kagame's human rights abuse in both Rwanda and Congo, former President Bill Clinton presented Kagame with one of his Global Citizen Awards to Rwandan President Paul Kagame and called him "one of the great leaders of our time."

 

KPFA: Clinton refers to the territorial integrity of Rwanda, but not the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which Rwanda and Uganda have invaded repeatedly since 1996, though this is not a matter of historical dispute. In 2009, on Barack Obama's Inauguration Day, the Rwandan Army crossed into Congo with the blessing of the U.S. and the UN Security Council. The international community no longer explicitly agrees to Rwanda's incursions, but the Security Council has refused to openly name Rwanda as the aggressor and sanction its top officials.  

 

Clinton also makes reference to "the rule of law in Rwanda," though human rights defenders including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called on Kagame to release imprisoned political opponents, and, though Rwandan journalists have been not only repressed, but also murdered and imprisoned in recent years. During the last week of May, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for a fair trial in imprisoned opposition leader Victoire Ingabire's appeal, and stated that her first trial was politically motivated and did not meet international judicial standards.   

For Pacifica, KPFA and AfrobeatRadio, I'm Ann Garrison.

And Bill Clinton, "the genocider who just might get away" http://sfbayview.com/2010/bill-clinton-the-genocider-who-just-might-get-away/, says he's willing to "make special allowances for Rwanda", because it is so "organized" (fascist) and it has established "the rule of law" (Kagame's).

http://www.anngarrison.com/audio/2013/08/24/459/congo-and-rwanda-trade-accusations-of-cross-border-weapons-fire

Congo and Rwanda trade accusations of cross border weapons fire

Submitted by Ann Garrison on Sat, 08/24/2013 - 22:09

• play
• stop
• mute

00:00

03:39

KPFA Evening News, 08.24.2013

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda trade accusations of cross border weapons fire in North Kivu Province. The UN Force Intervention Brigade says it's going on the offensive to help the Congolese army move Rwanda's M23 from their positions, but Goma residents, suspicious of UN motives, burn tires and chant anti-UN Mission slogans.

 

Transcript: 

KPFA Evening News Anchor David Rosenberg: Fighting has resumed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's North Kivu Province, with both Rwanda and theAngry residents carry the body of a person killed hours earlier when a rocket landed on a home in Goma. Congo blamed it on neighboring Rwanda,whose command of the M23 has been documented by UN investigators. Photo: Alain WandimoyiDemocratic Republic of the Congo accusing each other of weapons fire across the border between the two countries. KPFA's Ann Garrison has the story.

 

KPFA/Ann: On Thursday, a Congolese spokesman told the BBC that shells landing in the border town of Goma were coming from Rwanda, and today he accused Rwanda of firing a rocket that landed inside the border town of Goma and killed three people. The Rwandan army said that Congolese mortar fire had landed in villages along its border.

 

A UN spokesman said that the UN Force Intervention Brigade had undertaken its first offensive operation to support the Congolese army in displacing the M23 militia from their positions, but the Associated Press reported that a U.N. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that it was a defensive operation.   

 

Many citizens of Goma distrust the UN's motives, and believe it to be standing in the way of the Congolese army. The AP reported that roads through the city of Goma were blocked today by burning tires and crowds chanting anti-UN Mission slogans.  

 

The 2012 UN Group of Experts report identified both Rwanda and Uganda, but most of all Rwanda, as the aggressors behind the M23 militia, but Rwandan President Paul Kagame still has his defenders, most notably former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, evangelical megachurch Pastor Rick Warren, and former President Bill Clinton. On August 13th, after visiting Rwanda, Bill Clinton told the BBC that he was willing to make special allowances for Rwanda.

 

Bill Clinton: I support a free press in Rwanda. I don't support the repression of journalists. I don't think human rights should be violated in the Congo to protect the territorial integrity of Rwanda, but I suppose I do make more allowances for a government that has produced as much progress as that one has, and has been well-organized and otherwise had the rule of law, and so, that's the way it is. Very few situations are perfect.

Despite many years of UN investigations and other reports documenting Rwandan President Paul Kagame's human rights abuse in both Rwanda and Congo, former President Bill Clinton presented Kagame with one of his Global Citizen Awards to Rwandan President Paul Kagame and called him "one of the great leaders of our time."

 

KPFA: Clinton refers to the territorial integrity of Rwanda, but not the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which Rwanda and Uganda have invaded repeatedly since 1996, though this is not a matter of historical dispute. In 2009, on Barack Obama's Inauguration Day, the Rwandan Army crossed into Congo with the blessing of the U.S. and the UN Security Council. The international community no longer explicitly agrees to Rwanda's incursions, but the Security Council has refused to openly name Rwanda as the aggressor and sanction its top officials.  

 

Clinton also makes reference to "the rule of law in Rwanda," though human rights defenders including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called on Kagame to release imprisoned political opponents, and, though Rwandan journalists have been not only repressed, but also murdered and imprisoned in recent years. During the last week of May, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for a fair trial in imprisoned opposition leader Victoire Ingabire's appeal, and stated that her first trial was politically motivated and did not meet international judicial standards.   

For Pacifica, KPFA and AfrobeatRadio, I'm Ann Garrison.