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afrol.com, 17 October - The new ties between Rwanda and South Africa already seem to positively have affected the situation in Congo Kinshasa, paving for the pullback of troops from five countries. South African President Mbeki now announces that he will pay an official visit to Rwanda on October 18 and 19. This will be the first Official visit by a South African Head of State to Rwanda. The positive development in the Maputo Summit yesterday, were all the five countries with troops in Congo Kinshasa (DRC) agreed to pull back their troops at least 15km from their current positions, came after the mediation of Mbeki and the promise from Rwandan President Paul Kagame that he would pull Rwandan forces back 200 km. South African President Thabo Mbeki yesterday headed the one-day SADC summit in Maputo (Mozambique), were also Rwanda and Uganda were invited. After obtaining promises from Rwandan President Paul Kagame that he would pull Rwandan forces back 200 km, all the five countries with troops in the DRC agreed to pull back. The same day that this possible breakthrough was reached, Mbeki announced his official visit to Rwanda later this week. It is not ruled out that Mbeki had put pressure on Kagame to make concessions in change for the long wanted visit. South Africa, though no directly involved in the DRC, has been seen as a silent ally to Zimbabwean President Mugabe and Namibian President Nujoma, and their direct involvement on DRC President Kabila's side in the war. Rwanda and Uganda, on the other side, have troops deployed in the DRC supporting the rebel army Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD). South Africa so far has shown sympathy for the view of Mugabe and Nujoma, mostly due to the historic ties between the old liberation movements the presidents in the three countries head. Signals of bettering relationships between South Africa and Rwanda have been noted for some time. In August, the Rwandan National Assembly opened formal links with the South African National Assembly, and has since them worked to strengthen the bilateral links and interaction between the two countries. Mbeki's visit to Rwanda - Following the devastating genocide in 1994, the Government of National Unity of Rwanda has been engaged in the reconstruction of public and economic institutions, an official statement from the South African Presidency states, giving substantial moral support to Kagame's government. The exiled Rwandan (Hutu) opposition describes Kagame's Government in a rather contrasting tone. - President Mbeki's visit will help consolidate South Africa's support for the economic growth and the entrenchment of democratic institutions in Rwanda, Mbeki states. "Bilateral trade, economic and political development of the region is a strong focus of this visit." While South African companies have already invested greatly in Rwanda's economic development, it is clear that there is significant room for expansion of trade and economic relations. The large delegation of representatives from South Africa's Parastatals, including Eskom and Satour, will help foster these relations, according to Mbeki. President Mbeki's programme for the two days includes a keynote address to the Unity and Reconciliation Commission national summit in Kigali, interaction with South African and Rwandan business people; visits to key industries in Rwanda's economy and a visit to the Murambi Genocide Site. Rwanda has experienced a significant economic recovery after the 1994 genocide, besides the enormous human suffering it caused, also lay the Rwandan economy in ruins. South African capital is welcome in Rwanda, were the climate for foreign investments generally is said to be favourable. Closer economic ties between Rwanda and South Africa will bring these two countries more politically in line, a sound development in the entire region, as the Maputo Summit has proven. Sources: Based on South African
Govt. and Rwandan Presidency
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