Rwanda Parliament dismisses 'unfounded allegations' by Congo house speaker
The Parliament of Rwanda, on August 1, issued a statement in which it said it “deplores the unfounded allegations made against Rwanda” about the conflict in DR Congo by the Speaker of the the Congolese National Assembly, Vital Kamerhe, who attended the sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva, on Wednesday, July 30.
The Parliament said “these utterances contrast sharply with the constructive spirit” demonstrated at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie held in Paris from July 12 to 13, during which Kamerhe, supported a resolution welcoming the US-facilitated Peace Agreement of 27 June between Rwanda and DR Congo.
Kamerhe, who had earlier called on the two parliaments to support the implementation of the peace agreement, on Wednesday accused Rwanda of supporting the AFC/M23 rebels and occupying territory in DR Congo.
“By switching to inflammatory rhetoric in Geneva just two weeks later, Hon. Kamerhe has undermined the commitment he publicly declared, raising reservations about the sincerity of the [Congolese] Parliament in interparliamentary efforts to advance peace,” the Parliament of Rwanda said in the statement.
It stated that the successful implementation of the Peace Agreement will depend on many factors, including both parliaments passing laws approving its ratification.
“A flipflopping of political stance risks delaying that process and jeopardising the broader peace effort,” the statement read.
The Parliament of Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to constructive dialogue and called for accountability from all political leaders who must demonstrate consistency, integrity, and respect for the agreements they endorse to advance peace and stability in our region.
The Rwandan Parliament on July 29 ratified the peace agreement signed in Washington, D.C.
The landmark deal has several components, including a plan for the neutralisation of the FDLR, a militia founded by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and the lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures as a result. The UN- and US-sanctioned terrorist group has launched attacks on Rwandan territory for more than a quarter century.
