afrol News, 19 January - The Rwandan government has announced its willingness to restore relations with Germany after a rift between two countries over the arrest of the top Rwandan official Rose Kabuye in Frankfurt last November.

According to a communiqué issued by the foreign ministry, two countries that broke ties in November have decided to resolve their differences including appointing new ambassadors to their capitals.

Ms Kabuye's arrest drew a furious reaction from Kigali, with the Rwandan government further expelling the Germany's ambassador to Kigali early November and recalling its own ambassador from Berlin.

The top aide diplomat was arrested for her alleged involvement in the downing of a plane 14 years ago carrying Rwanda's former Hutu president Juvenal Habyarimana that sparked the country's infamous genocide.

"Germany and Rwanda share a long history of friendly relations. In the mutual interest of both countries and their people, they want to look forward and have agreed to work together to iron out matters disagreed upon," the foreign ministry statement said.

Ms Kabuye is the first of nine aides close to president Kagame to be arrested on 2006 warrants by French anti-terrorism judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere on suspicion of being behind the downing of a plane carrying Rwanda's former president.

German police had arrested Ms Kabuye during a visit to Germany last November and extradited her to France, where she was wanted on a French terrorism charge.

The governing regime had accused the French and other European states of expending more effort in persecuting the survivors of the Tutsi genocide instead of hunting down the perpetrators belonging to the Hutu tribe.

In August, Rwandan government issued a 500-page report accusing 13 French politicians of playing a role in the massacres, including then-president Francois Mitterrand, who died in 1996, and former prime minister Edouard Balladur.

French legal authorities have been investigating Mr Habyarimana's death because his aircraft had a French crew. The arrest warrants led to an immediate break in diplomatic relations between Paris and Kigali, and tensions that have continued ever since.

The case against Ms Kabuye, will be heard on 28 January in Paris, according to government sources.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Tweet

Printable version

On the Afrol News front page now

UN will not monitor human rights in Western Sahara afrol News - The US has backed down on its demand that UN peacekeepers in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara also shall monitor the human rights situation after Moroccan sources threatened to scale down relations with Washington. Read more

Central African Republic

Central African Republic falling apart afrol News - One month after the rebel movement Séléka took over power in the Central African Republic, unrest is spreading in the country. The new leader lacks control of his forces, which continue looting and abusing civilians. Read more

Kenya

Kenyatta secures tight victory in Kenya afrol News - The official election results in Kenya have finally been announced, and Uhuru Kenyatta managed to win the first poll round outright with a narrow 50.7 percent. But the main opponent, PM Raila Odinga, is filing a vote rigging complaint to the courts. Read more

Cape Verde Cape Verde to produce dragon fruit afrol News - Cape Verde authorities have invested large sums to diversify the arid country's agricultural sector. Now, the dragon fruit, originating in tropical America, is being introduced for the first commercial production in Africa. Read more

Egypt Even governors in Pharaonic Egypt died in their 20s afrol News - Researchers have analysed more than 200 mummies from ancient Egypt, finding that even high dignitaries were poorly nourished and had infectious diseases. The typical governor in Pharaonic Egypt died before he was 30 years old. Read more