Africa

France-Rwanda-Mozambique: Paul Kagame Deploys Troops to Mozambique Following Visit by French President Emmanuel Macron

Mozambique President Felipe Nyusi received in Rwanda by Paul Kagame, April 2021

On July 9, 2021, the Rwandan government announced that it was deploying 1,000 troops to Mozambique, in the Cabo Delgado Province, starting immediately, at the request of the government of Mozambique, to fight against growing insecurity and civil war. The announcement follows the May 26-27, 2021 visit to Rwanda by French President Emmanuel Macron. The immediate deployment of Rwanda troops under Mozambique military command, despite the reserves by key leaders of Southern African Development Community (SADC) appear to confirm the information by AfroAmerica Network sources with the Rwandan Government as published in earlier reports.

DRC - Francophonie: The IXth Francophonie Games Planned in Kinshasa To Be Cancelled?

RDC: Fortunat Bisele and General Paul Kagame in Kigali, 2020

The IX Francophonie Games were planned in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), between August 19-28, 2022. According to sources within the Francophonie, the games will be cancelled. The official communication to cancel or maintain the games will be published on July 7, 2021. The stated reasons would be a coverup of the real reasons behind the cancellation. The cancellation aligns with the previous reports based on similar sources that indicated that the games may not happen in Kinshasa in August 2022 and would rather be moved to Kigali, Rwanda (see here). The sources had then cited widespread corruption within the leadership appointed by DRC President Felix Tshisekedi to prepare the games. They point to a close adviser to Felix Tshisekedi and an agent of the Rwandan Government as being behind the chaos. Hence, the motives for the cancellation will allegedly just be a cover-up for the corruption, the intended chaos, and manipulation.

DRC-Rwanda: Bilateral Trade Agreements Raise Fears of the Long Planned Balkanization of DRC

Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame in Gisenyi, Rwanda, June 25, 2021

On Saturday June 26, 2021, the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi and of Rwanda (DRC), Paul Kagame, signed a trade agreement in the town of Goma, in North Kivu Province, Eastern DRC. The trade agreement includes three pieces: exploitation of mineral resources, taxation, and securing investment infrastructures. The agreement has raised concerns and controversies, with some observers expressing their fears of the balkanization of the DRC.

Rwanda: Sources Point to Widespread Tortures, Including Rapes by Government Security Forces and Operatives

Rwanda youth prisoners in Rwanda in 2010

The human rights situation in Rwanda has created a major concern. On June 16, 2021, the US Government issued a travel warning advising that Rwanda has reached security "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution". The US State Department advised US citizens to contact Rwandan Development Board before travelling to several areas in the country. The warning mentions increased risks due to conflicts at the borders with Burundi to the South and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to South West and North West of Rwanda.

These conflicts have worsened the human rights situation in Rwanda and led to widespread arrests, tortures, and kidnapping of real or suspected critics of or members of opposition groups to the Government of Rwanda, led by Rwandan Dictator Paul Kagame.