US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken left for Rwanda on Wednesday after meeting with the Democratic Republic of Congo's leadership to discuss tensions and human rights issues in Africa's Great Lakes region.
for the State Department's statement that Brinken continues to engage with African leaders on US strategy for sub-Saharan Africa, with the aim of strengthening US-Rwanda ties. , was due to arrive in Kigali on Wednesday night.
A key issue to address during Blinken's visit is tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as other conflicts in the region.
Human Rights Watch Central Africa Director Louis Madge said human rights were blatantly ignored in the region, and the conflict continued to disrupt the lives of innocent civilians. said there is. He said Blinken must use this opportunity to reiterate the United States' commitment to protecting the rights of people in the region.
“He expressed this to [Presidents] Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda and to [Presidents] Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame of Rwanda respectively, hoping that the United States would remain a partner of Rwanda and the Congo. We should really use it as an opportunity to highlight that we are," Madge said. "But only if measures are taken to respect human rights and principles."
Blinken and Rwandan officials discuss fighting in Congo involving rebel group M23 Probability is high. In 2013, the United States blocked military aid to Rwanda, according to the State Department.
Another issue under negotiation is the Rwandan imprisonment of US permanent resident Paul Rusesabagina.
According to Trial Watch, a legal organization that monitors trials globally, the 2020 Rusesabagina trial did not comply with international and local standards. Rusesabagina's actions saved hundreds of lives in the 1994 genocide and inspired the film Hotel His Rwanda.
The Rwandan government has repeatedly refuted these allegations, but officials said they would be open to exchanges of views on human rights and governance during Blinken's visit.
Rwanda's human rights lawyer Gate Niringabo Ruhumuliza argues that Rwanda has a human rights commitment and is benefiting from it.
"For Rwandans, human rights are not concepts. For Rwandans, human rights are actions," Ruhumuliza said. “Human rights means the [government] raised salaries for teachers last week. This is what we think human rights are. Human rights of Rwandans after what happened to us, human rights is action, seeing our lives change and it is safe.”
Ishmael Buchanan, Diplomatic Relations and diplomatic lecturer. He said the new Cold War-like environment will affect the outcome of these discussions, as the United States is at war with Russia and China over ties in Africa. We have a lot of investors in , so obviously it will have an impact on them as well,” he said. "So both sides will look to their national interests."
Buchanan said that included the Rusesabagina case.
"What happens next is a matter of dialogue and their understanding," he said.
The Government of Rwanda said addressing security challenges in the Great Lakes region is a key priority, and Rwanda continues to work with various regional mechanisms to find lasting solutions. rice field.
