Rwanda: Mushikiwabo – Rwanda Still Hopeful On DRC Peace Process

Rwanda has registered progress in implementing the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo has said.

The Framework was signed in Addis Ababa in February this year.

Mushikiwabo made the remarks ahead of the UN Security Council Debate on ‘Supporting the Great Lakes Framework’ scheduled for Thursday, July 25 in New York.

She is expected to take part in the debate, to be chaired by US Secretary of State John Kerry, where she will discuss what Rwanda has done towards the implementation of the framework.

The debate will focus on building on several events that have brought renewed efforts to establishing lasting peace that tackles the underlying causes of conflict in the region.

“We have made progress toward the Framework but what we need to see is the situation on the ground changing beyond the frameworks and the documents,” Mushikiwabo told The New Times in an interview on Friday.

“Different countries have done what they are supposed to do.”

The Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region was signed on February 24 by Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Congo, DRC, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.

The accord aims at a complete restoration of peace in the region mainly in the eastern DRC.

It also seeks to end instabilities by use of a holistic approach that addresses the multifaceted root causes of the conflicts in the region.

Although efforts are being invested in realising the objectives of the Framework, concerns remain about warring parties’ commitments in supporting the process.

Rwanda optimistic:

“As part of implementing the framework, Rwanda received refugees and disarmed them, collaborated with the US in sending Bosco Ntaganda to the International Criminal Court (ICC), participated in the technical committee meetings establishing the evaluation mechanism of the framework and many more,” Mushikiwabo said, adding that; ”

However, we would want to see progress happening on the ground but we are very optimistic. The UN Secretary General Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, Mary Robinson is doing a great job. She’s a good broker for the region.”

The New Times