An open letter to UN Peacekeeping Forces urging them not to attack Hutu Refugees in the DRC

January 19, 2015

 

Object: To urge UN Peacekeeping forces known as MONUSCO & Force Intervention Brigade not to solve political crisis of the Great Lakes Region of Africa by the a barrel of gun, which will prevent loss of innocent lives and making the situation much worse.

 

The Refugees Rescue Mission (RRM) is a Christian non-profit organization that was founded in North Carolina in January 2009 by the refugees from Rwanda and Americans who passionately sought to improve lives of refugees.

On June 5, 2013, we wrote an open letter to President Barack Obama urging his administration to support a peaceful paradigm that H. E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has suggested during the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. President Kikwete suggested that if there would be lasting peace in the region the Rwandan government should engage in dialogue with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). Furthermore, he suggested that the Ugandan government should have dialogue with the ADF-Nalu, which is a Ugandan rebel group based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Due to mediation by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the support of the DRC government, the FDLR has begun voluntary disarming on May 30, 2014, which reached 24% of its forces as we wrote this letter. This was a positive move by the rebels who requested the International Community to pressure the Rwandan government to open up a political space and have a dialogue with its political foes as it was suggested by H.E. Jakaya Kikwete and reiterated by the SADC countries.

Unfortunately, the RPF regime and its key allies (namely the United States of America) did not welcome the peaceful disarmament that could be followed by a dialogue between the Rwandan government and its political opponents. The Rwandan government and its allies wanted an unconditional total surrender, which does not address oppression, human rights abuse and undemocratic nature of the Rwandan regime. It’s worth noting that the FDLR is one of dozens of Rwandan exile organizations, which can’t operate in Rwanda due to their dissenting views toward the regime of President Paul Kagame. The allies of the Rwandan government for decades until today cover up and defend the Rwandan regime at any cost.

During the U.S Africa Leaders Summit in Washington D.C, Mr. Russ Feingold called for using military might to disarm the FDLR and made it clear that there would be no dialogue between the Rwandan government and its political foes. The U.S maintained this position and it influenced all decision made by U.N Security Council, which seems not support peaceful dialogue.

The Refugees Rescue Missions wants to reiterate its call for peaceful dialogue and remind the International Community that the war they are preparing will not solve political problems in Rwanda or in the Great Lake region of Africa.

The UN knows that guns did not end problems of the ADF-Nalu nor the Lord Resistance Army. These two groups are still on run and causing chaos in the region. Attacking the FDLR will only cause unnecessary loss of lives among Congolese population and Hutu refugees who live in Kivu Provinces.

SADC countries such as Tanzania and South Africa, which first suggested the right path of dialogue that could result in a lasting peace in the region, have been pressured by superpowers in changing their positions, which have been reflected in media outlets.

We want to remind the Rwandan government, the United States, and the whole International community that after decades of wars caused by governments of Rwanda and Uganda, which were followed by multiple joint operations, none of these wars solved the problems of the region. By doing the same thing that have been done; it’s clear that those who call for war will yield same results, which resulted in endless wars and loss of innocent lives.

Those who call for war without dialogue, argue that the Rwandan government can’t negotiate with the group that is accused of heinous crimes including genocide, but it’s worth reminding them that among the rank of the Rwandan Defense Force are senior officers who are accused of heinous crimes against humanity and “possible genocide” if approved by a competent court. The UN High Commission for Human Rights made this investigation and released its UN Exercise Mapping Report on Human Rights Abuses in the DRC (1993-2003). This report was released on October 1, 2010, but until now no justice has been given to victims due to cover-ups and geopolitical interests.

We hope that the UN Security Council and superpower countries such as United States will reconsider their position of solving the problems of the Great Lakes Region of Africa by force. We are urging the UN Security Council, United States, and SADC to promote a peaceful dialogue, respect of human rights, freedom, and democracy, which most of the members of the UN Security Council claim to value and promote.

On Behalf of the Refugees Rescue Mission, Inc.

Reverend Innocent Ndagijimana Justice,

Founder and President of President

[email protected]

 

 

President Barack Obama, The President of the United States of America.

Excellency Ban Ki-moon, The General Secretary of the United Nations

His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, The Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation.

His Excellency President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, The President of Republic of Tanzania. CC. United Nations Security Council Permanent Members