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afrol News, 29 June - Rwandan President Paul Kagame, presently in New York following the special UN summit on HIV/AIDS, has made several statements about the Congolese government’s continued violation of the Lusaka peace agreement by supporting attacks on Rwanda by the ex-FAR and Interahamwe (groups behind the 1994 genocide). President Paul Kagame on Wednesday met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and British and German ministers and Kenyan President Daniel T. arap Moi on Tuesday, using the occasion to express Rwandan concerns about developments in neighbouring Congo Kinshasa (DRC). Also in an interview with the New York Times, Kagame drew "a sadder portrait of Congo than UN" (title of interview). The ex-FAR and Interahamwe armed groups plaid a key role in preparing and executing the 1994 Rwandan genocide, where an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moterate Hutus were killed. Rests of these groups have since had refuge in neighbouring Congo Kinshasa, and have been supported by the succeding governments of Mobuto Sese Seke, Laurent Kabila and Joseph Kabila. This support and attacks on Rwanda from Congo were the direct background for Rwanda's involvement in two Congolese wars. The disarmament and possible detention of ex-FAR and Interahamwe troups have been the main demand by the Rwandan government for pulling its troops out of Congo Kinshasa, a demand that was accepted in the Kusaka Peace Agreement. With Josph Kabila coming to power in Kinshasa earlier this year, the peace initiative gained momentum, and Rwanda started pulling out its troops. Since then, however, the Rwandan government has documented that Kinshasa still supports the ex-FAR and Interahamwe armed groups. Neither there has been a significant improvement in the human rights situation in Congo Kinshasa, raising international doubt whether Joseph Kabila's government is seriously engaged in necessary reforms to reach peace and democracy. Meeting with Kofi Annan, President Kagame on Wednesday expressed concern about the Kinshasa government’s "continued violation of the Lusaka Agreement by supporting attacks on Rwanda by the ex-FAR and Interahamwe," according to a Rwandan government release. The same issue was discussed with the British Secretary of State for International Development. Earlier this month, some 2,000 armed ex-FAR and Interahamwe fighters entered Rwanda from Congo Kinshasa. The fighters moved into Virunga National Park (on the Congolese, Ugandan and Rwandan border), but were beaten by the Rwandan army. According to the Rwandan government, about 730 Interahamwe militia were killed and some 500 were captured during the fighting, the latter now "undergoing rehabilitation and re-education before being reintegrated into society." The Interahamwe were considered the hardliners under the 1994 genocide. As the genocidal government fell, they fled to Congo Kinshasa together with an estimated 2 million Hutus. The Interahamwe quickly regrouped in the Congo, held refugees as hostages and started slaying Congolese Tutsis. Sources:
Rwandan govt., and afrol archives
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