Rwandan Army Slapped the United States on the Sanctions Imposed on Kigali

Rwandan army has taken a good swipe at the United States' sanctions for the use of child soldiers by rebels it is accused of supporting in Democratic Republic of Congo, saying it had no factual basis. "It is surprising that Rwanda would be liable for matters that are neither on its territory nor in its practices," army spokesperson Joseph Nzabamwita said in a statement, adding that the "decision to include Rwanda among states that use child soldiers is not based on evidence or facts".

This is not the first time Rwanda is showing that it cannot be tossed around by anybody. When Britain stated that it would withdraw aid from the East African nation over the same allegation of supporting the M23 rebels, President Paul Kagame minced no word is putting Britain in its proper and deserved place by telling it to keep its aid. He went further to say that Africa has come of age and should not complain of been controlled by the imperialists. The audacity of Kagame stems from the fact he has led Rwanda to become prosperous after the colossal Rwandan genocide of 1994.

The United Nations also accuses Rwanda of backing the M23, a charge the country has rigorously adamantly denied. Various human rights groups not excluding the UN rights body have also accused the M23 rebels of committing serious atrocities; including rape and murder, in addition to the use of child soldiers, in a conflict that has caused tens of thousands of refugees to flee.

The United States, due to all these allegations, slammed sanctions on Rwanda centrally over the use of child soldiers by the rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the United States was invoking the 2008 Child Soldiers Protection Act in sanctioning Rwanda, as Washington seeks to end "any involvement in the recruitment of child soldiers".

The sanctions were linked to actions by the M23. Thomas-Greenfield said the US will continue to have discussions with the Rwandan government on the issue. The sanctions terminate financial and military assistance for the fiscal year 2014, which began on 1 October. The sanctions will end all international military education and training in financial year 2014.

The United States slams Sanctions on Rwanda Over M23 Rebels Acts

Rwanda continues to be the potential target for the activities of the M23 rebels whom it has been accused of supporting without remorse. The M23 was founded by former Tutsi rebels who were incorporated into the Congolese army under the 2009 peace deal. In April 2012, the M23 revolted and launched the latest rebellion, ravaging DR Congo's mineral-rich and conflict-prone east.

The United Nations also accuses Rwanda of backing the M23, a charge the country has rigorously adamantly denied. Various human rights groups not excluding the UN rights body have also accused the M23 rebels of committing serious atrocities; including rape and murder, in addition to the use of child soldiers, in a conflict that has caused tens of thousands of refugees to flee.

The United States, due to all these allegations, slammed sanctions on Rwanda centrally over the use of child soldiers by the rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the United States was invoking the 2008 Child Soldiers Protection Act in sanctioning Rwanda, as Washington seeks to end "any involvement in the recruitment of child soldiers".

The sanctions were linked to actions by the M23. Thomas-Greenfield said the US will continue to have discussions with the Rwandan government on the issue. The sanctions terminate financial and military assistance for the fiscal year 2014, which began on 1 October. The sanctions will end all international military education and training in financial year 2014.

The US will however continue to support peacekeeping training that is not restricted to this child soldiers prevention act. United Nations Brigade, created by the Security Council and composed of Tanzanian, South African and Malawian soldiers has been able to record tremendous gains in DR Congo. It has driven the rebels far into the border with Rwanda which made resumption of peace talks in Uganda almost inevitable.

United States Calls for Calm and Restraint in Congo as Fighting Escalates

The United States said it was alarmed by an escalation in fighting in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between M23 rebels and Congolese soldiers; called on neighbouring Rwanda to stop its support for the rebels. The State Department condemned attacks by the M23 that killed at least three people in Congo's eastern city of Goma. It also expressed concern over reports by the United Nations of shelling by the M23 into Rwanda territory.

"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," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement. "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." Harf said the United States was ready to consider further targeted sanctions against M23 rebel leaders and other armed groups.

Washington urged the UN mission in Congo, MONUSCO, to thoroughly investigate charges of cross-border shelling. Rwanda said five mortar bombs had fallen on Rwandan villages, following a rocket the previous and blamed Congo's army.

United Nations Brigade, created by the Security Council and composed of Tanzanian, South African and Malawian soldiers has had its first clash with the Congolese rebels menacing the Eastern town of Goma bordering Rwanda since it was created in March to neutralise the rebels at all cost; by the use of force if and when necessary. The brigade fired artillery at the rebels according to reports.

The rebels were reported to have entered a security zone ringing Goma that had been established by the newly-designed UN Intervention Brigade and at least two people were killed when three shells landed in the city centre. The fighting entered a third successive day near Goma, a city of about a million people after a relative lull in the 18-month-old M23 rebellion. The city was seized by the M23 rebels last year and the United Nations pledged in July to prevent the rebels from getting back within range of the city.

UN Lieutenant-Colonel Felix Basse said another M23 shell crashed near Munigi on Goma's outskirts, where a UN peacekeepers' base is located, causing some civilian casualties. Clashes between M23 and the Congolese army continued. Government forces repelled two rebel assaults according to Colonel Olivier Hamuli, spokesman for the Congolese army, known as FARDC. "The (UN) brigade is engaged on our side, they're supporting us with their artillery," he told reuters.

Rwanda, which has long had strained relations with Congo, accused the Congolese army of deliberately firing artillery into its territory. Kinshasa denied the reports and repeated its accusation that Rwanda backs M23. Rwanda denies it. Martin Kobler, head of the UN mission known as MONUSCO, said populated areas and UN positions had been directly attacked during the clashes.

Peacekeeping Redefined; United Nations Peacekeepers Clash with Congolese Rebels

United Nations Brigade, created by the Security Council and composed of Tanzanian, South African and Malawian soldiers has had its first clash with the Congolese rebels menacing the Eastern town of Goma bordering Rwanda since it was created in March to neutralise the rebels at all cost; by the use of force if and when necessary. The brigade fired artillery at the rebels according to reports.

The rebels were reported to have entered a security zone ringing Goma that had been established by the newly-designed UN Intervention Brigade and at least two people were killed when three shells landed in the city centre. The fighting entered a third successive day near Goma, a city of about a million people after a relative lull in the 18-month-old M23 rebellion. The city was seized by the M23 rebels last year and the United Nations pledged in July to prevent the rebels from getting back within range of the city.

UN Lieutenant-Colonel Felix Basse said another M23 shell crashed near Munigi on Goma's outskirts, where a UN peacekeepers' base is located, causing some civilian casualties. Clashes between M23 and the Congolese army continued. Government forces repelled two rebel assaults according to Colonel Olivier Hamuli, spokesman for the Congolese army, known as FARDC. "The (UN) brigade is engaged on our side, they're supporting us with their artillery," he told reuters.

Rwanda, which has long had strained relations with Congo, accused the Congolese army of deliberately firing artillery into its territory. Kinshasa denied the reports and repeated its accusation that Rwanda backs M23. Rwanda denies it. Martin Kobler, head of the UN mission known as MONUSCO, said populated areas and UN positions had been directly attacked during the clashes.

Rwanda has continued to be embroiled in the crisis because it is believed to be sponsoring and protecting the rebels. Four rebels who sought refugee in Uganda recently indicted Rwanda while it has also refused to release two rebels in Kigali wanted by the Democratic Republic Congo. Bosco Ntaganda, a notorious rebel leader also escaped into Rwanda before being extradited to the Hague to face war crimes.

Rwanda's defence ministry acknowledged a rocket had hit the Rwandan border village of Buga but blamed it on the Congolese army, calling it "completely unprovoked and senseless". No casualties were reported in Rwanda, but the ministry said the explosion had damaged property. Rwanda faults a UN position drafted by France and want a resolution that would condemn both the Congolese FARDC army and M23 and would urge the "FARDC and M23 to cease violence immediately."

Rwanda also proposed deleting language noting that targeting peacekeepers is a war crime. Rwanda was the sole member of the 15-nation council that objected to the French-drafted statement, envoys said. Two Western diplomats said the Rwandan amendments were an attempt to equate the Congolese army with the M23 rebels and therefore unacceptable. The rebels rejected accusations they were behind any shelling, saying it was done by Congolese soldiers in an attempt to draw peacekeepers and Rwandan troops into the fight.

The M23 rebels accused the government of not honouring an agreement reached on a March 23 date, hence, the name M23 rebels. They moved past the 17,000-strong MONUSCO troops; the world's largest UN mission in November 2012 to briefly seize Goma. They withdrew under a deal that called for peace negotiations between the rebels and Congolese government representatives. However the talks in the Ugandan capital Kampala have made little headway.

Rwanda: A Real Model for Africa

20 percent of Rwanda's population was killed in the 1994 genocide and two million of its people were displaced. The violent episode took a heavy toll on its economy and health service.

Close to two decades after Rwanda’s darkest hour, the country is being hailed as a model for recovery and reinvention and praised as a spectacular public health success story.

Danielle Beswick, a lecturer and specialist on Rwanda at the University of Birmingham speaking to Aljazeera stated: "Rwanda has been able to develop quite an innovative relationship with the donors. Rwanda as a government has quite  unique approach, a strongly nationally-owned approach to development which is a thing that we don't often see in Africa .... Donors don't just feel guilty and therefore they pour money into Rwanda. They also recognise that the Rwandan government has a strong vision for development."

United States health experts in a study say Rwanda has improved the quality of life in almost all walks of life. One year after the genocide life expectancy stood at 30 years; latest figures show it has now almost doubled to 59.

To fully get the Rwandan picture, a comparison would be necessary. Ethiopia has an average life expectancy of 54 and in the conflict-stricken Democratic Republic of Congo, it is 49.

In 1994, 78 percent of the population in Rwanda lived below the poverty line. By 2010 that figure had dropped to 45 percent, and in the five years up to 2010, one million Rwandans were lifted out of poverty. Rwanda is also winning the fight against infectious diseases.

Deaths from HIV, TB and malaria have each dropped by around 80 percent over the past 10 years. For tuberculosis, Rwanda has a rate of around 128 sufferers per 100,000 people. In Ethiopia it is close to 400 people, and in the DRC it is well over 500 for every 100,000 people.

Selam Hailemichael, Care International in Norway also speaking to Aljazeera stated: "The vision and the framework first needs to be in place for aid to make sense.... For the country to reach the level that it's at now, I would say what has contributed is the shared vision .... It's quite a mixed information that's coming out of Rwanda, that's a fact. But [what we are seeing] is a very inclusive development in Rwanda".

The African nation has emerged from a failed state, to break the cycle of poverty, despair and disease. Paul Kagame has also being described as the model for African leaders.

Paul Kagame: A model for Africa

When I read about the genocide of Rwanda, I begin to wonder what sort of humans my people have turned into in Africa. Beasts. The conclusion and end to the genocide did not come from outside of the continent, at least Rwanda has no oil majorly or gold centrally. In that case, neither the US nor France can intervene.

Bill Clinton and the United Nations refused to label the genocide with its proper appellation thus extricating themselves of any R2P. The solution to the Hutus' killing of Tutsis came from the sagacious, bold and farsighted courage of a Rwandan himself; Paul Kagame.

Kagame raised a rebel group composed of Tutsis, the tribe being hatched in the pogrom and crossed into Rwanda from Uganda. After winning the battle against the Hutu majority, he became President and since then, he has led Rwanda to a glorious era in which ethnic animosity is fast becoming a forgotten past.

No other leader has achieved this feat in Africa; of leading a massively divided country based on ethnic bigotry into prosperous 'united' nation. Nigeria currently still finds it hard to discuss her ethnic divide from the past to the present especially finding ways to get off the hook of the Civil War.

Kagame continues to show the result of what dedicated leadership is. A book has been written about him and his leadership style. In the book authored by the New York Times bestselling author, Patricia Crisafulli and Andrea Redmond, he is said to lead more like a company's CEO than a political leader and that is exactly what he is. With just a secondary school certifcate, Kagame has shown great wisdom in governance. Read More

Education and Leadership: The African Reality

Africa: Where are the leaders?

Education and acclaimed global ratings

Many foreign analysts continue to pop up the excitement hormone of many African leaders that their continent is moving towards a better era. They give and bring out numerous reports on how advanced the continent is. World Bank continues to give economic reports with no correlation with the reality on ground. Everything coming out with different indexes are best surrounded in myths and mysteries. There is no way any foreign analyst can successfully determine the condition of Africa based on foreign standards and experiences. Africa has been turned into a continent where greed and avarice kill all theories and modicum of practicality.

A renowned professor of Harvard university, Calestous Juma, opined that Africa is moving towards plausible advancement direction with the election of technocrats as leaders. About 13 African countries are led by technocrats which to him is a good sign of projection. His postulation brings a question to mind: Is education really enhancing leadership acumen in Africa? The best answer going by the current trend is NO. Nigeria has a zoologist who is PhD holder yet gaffe and make decisions like someone just out of the university with a youthful mindset.

In Kenya, Mwai Kibaki continues to talk about good governance while overtly watch trial deaths happening and occurring. Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe has been strengthened to a nauseous state where members act as lords when elections are around the corner. Of what benefit are leaders who are really educated but act like toddlers in decision making. Leaders who see and witness the burning of their continent with tribal and religious bigotry yet covertly ember the heat and inferno rather than do all they can to extinguish them. Analyses shall be done on a selected few to show the real reality.

President Pierre Nkurunziza – Burundi: attended University of Burundi and major in Education and Sports. Has sports and education advance under his reign and regime? Education is to simulate the creativity and passion in minds, hence sports and education ought to be flying under him in Burundi.

         

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – Liberia: BA in Accounting at Madison Business College in Madison, Wisconsin
Diploma at the Economics Institute at the University of Colorado
Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Harvard University.

When President Sirleaf was elected, everyone hoped and believed the Liberian economy will pick up with great panache and awe-inspiring growth. Unfortunately, that continues to elude Liberians. The first rubber deal signed exempted the Firestone Rubber Natural Company from any environmental responsibility. A reminder of how shell operates with impunity in Nigeria. The Liberian economy ought to be a model in West Africa with the leadership of a renowned economist.

             

President José Eduardo dos Santos - Angola
He was awarded a scholarship in 1963 to study in the Soviet Union where he received a degree in petroleum engineering. Upon graduation in 1969, he stayed in the Soviet Union to continue his studies in Communications.

President dos Santos seems to be one among many that has proven his worth in his field. Angola has been doing well in the oil and gas sector and to a reasonable sense, he continues to stem the tide of insurgency in the country though more needs to be done. He took Angola to a level at which she competes with the African oil giant, Nigeria in oil and gas to the extent that Portugal, her former colonial master genuflects for her. Angola is brewing in an upcoming protest. The Arab and North Africa uprisings are influential foundation for the dissidents.

          

President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé - Togo
Degree in financial business management Sorbonne, Paris
Master of Business Administration degree The George Washington University United States.

Togo is one of the poorest in Africa and West Africa yet a Master Degree holder is her President. This in a way is a very queasy status yet the international financial institutions tells Africa the lion is charging.

           

President Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni – Benin

Studied economics at the National University of Benin. He studied banking at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, and later economics and politics at the University of Orléans in France and at Paris University, where he completed a doctorate in economics in 1976.

Benin Republic almost totally depend on trade with Nigeria with much smuggling and illegal transportation of contraband goods like cars and foodstuffs into Nigeria through the 'notorious' Seme border. Benin over the years has not shown high developmental thrust despite the qualification of the leader in business and economics. One would naturally expect the president to influence greatly, the orientation and diversification of the economy from dependency to a self-sustaining one. Sadly, this is not so.

           

King Mohammed VI - Morocco
B.A in law at the College of law of the Mohammed V University, Rabat.
Certificat d'Études Supérieures (CES) in political sciences & Diplôme d'Études Approfondies DEA in public law. Trained in Brussels with Jacques Delors, then President of the European Commission. Doctorate in law (PhD) with "Very Honourable" distinction and the Congratulations of the Jury on 29 October 1993 from the French University of Nice Sophia An tipolis for his thesis on "EEC-Maghreb Relations."

King Mohammed has lived up to good expectations by not allowing the Monarchy to be swept away by the North African uprising and the Arab Spring due to his 'foresighted' policies. His rule to a reasonable level gives Moroccans the unique identity of belonging to a sustainable country. Moroccans though tried to stir and shake up the system but the leadership style of the Monarch based on 'Constitutional Monarchy' salvaged the situation. Morocco has a model and a standard best suited for Morocco.

          

Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan

Jonathan holds a B.Sc degree in Zoology in which he attained Second Class Honours. He holds an M.Sc degree in Hydrobiology and Fisheries biology, and a PhD degree in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt He worked as an education inspector, lecturer, and environmental-protection officer.

Jonathan is a President that was voted into office due to his 'amiable' countenance and educational background. The president has proven so far that there is no synergy between higher education and leadership or so it seems. All his policies and decisions are at best that of someone just going in for higher education. Disappointment in all ways is what Nigerians get. Report came out in London that lions are going into extinction in Nigeria and tourism is massively collapsing yet no one is acting.

One expects a zoologist to be passionate about wildlife but such is not the case. Education is meant to be soaring high in Nigeria but it continues to retard. More universities, less qualified graduates. No equipments, no educational resources. All going down the drain. Nigeria is consistently broke. The economy is crying. Corruption smiles on. Shell continues to act impudently and with massive impunity against the environment with gas-flaring and environmental degradation yet an environment-protection officer is at the helm of affairs. So far, so good, Nigerians have not seen any justification and synergy in the educational qualifications, policies and actions.

                

President Mwai Emilio Kibaki – Kenya

Economics, History and Political Science at Makerere University College, Kampala, Uganda. Bachelors of Science with Distinction in Public Finance at the London School of Economics

Kenya under Mwai Kibaki has witnessed advancement in education, economy and technology but leadership greed is killing all prospects to the future. The sit-tight syndrome is a canker-worm eating the country just like it is around the continent except is places like Ghana, Botswana and South Africa. Here too education should have informed Mwai Kibaki that no man is an island of leadership or an emporium of knowledge to warrant continuous stay in power as if no other human exists. History is disgraced by Kibaki because he refused to learn from it.

             

President Paul Kagame - Rwanda
Attended Ntare Secondary School in Uganda

Paul Kagame has revealed that leadership and higher education does not necessarily correlate. They are two distinguished entities that depend on the capability and capacity of the person involved. Kagame was a rebel soldier with just a secondary school education yet Rwanda is skyrocketing in all facets. Her economy is growing, she stood her ground against Western control unlike most African leaders. Rwanda under Kagame has a veritably sustainable economy and society. The Rwanda experience shows that education is not a central criteria for leadership sagacity, hence Professor Calestous Juma's assertion on the prospect of plausible advancement for Africa hinged on the elections of technocrats is not particularly justifiable.

African leaders continuously make the continent a disgrace to Africans. The UN gave West African nations the legal framework to intervene in Mali but the leaders acted not. The delay in assisting Mali to curb the violence is the same in every other countries on the continent. It takes the efforts of the Jimmy Carter Foundation in line with the UN to make the 'peaceful' disintegration of Sudan possible. The Libyan question was allowed to turn into a NATO affair because African leaders are incapable of managing African affairs. What then is the basis of all the educational statuses?

Mali degenerated into real chaos because they were sleeping. Central African Republic is left on its own. Congo continues to wallow in insurgency and sufferings because the leaders cannot sit and think of a tomorrow. Nigeria is on her kneels with Boko Haram. Peace is elusive in Libya and everybody is watching. Kenya is bequeathed with pre-election tribal violence and they are folding arms. Joseph Kony is more than Uganda and the only way to tackle him is to call the US. African leaders have bastardized the concept of leadership and education.

Photos: Saharavibes and wikimedia