Rwanda’s donor aid cuts

Doesn’t a country that lost a million people deserve to protect its people against the threat of another genocide?

In a space of one week in July, the Netherlands, Germany, UK and USA announced they would cut their aid to Rwanda over its alleged involvement in the ongoing rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are another pointer to the dangers of Western aid to poor countries. The use of aid as an instrument of blackmail is a common practice by Western Europe and its offshoots in North America, Australia and New Zeeland. In almost all official and unofficial relations with recipients, Western donors keep rubbing in the fact that those recipients should behave themselves lest... This “lest” includes a series of threats such as cutting aid, sending a leader to the International Criminal Court (ICC) or imposing sanctions.

A Western NGO may launch a campaign against a poor country for behaving in a manner inconsistent with its (the NGO’s) desires. This NGO will immediately receive support from the Western journalists and their news organisations as the platforms for this campaign. Then a Western academic who is an “expert” on the poor country will appear in the media and publish a paper supporting the claims of the first two. These will win over a section of the local African elite with an axe to grind against their government to legitimise their claims. This concerted action will “force” the governments in the West to act with the blackmail of cutting aid or even worse.

I put “forced” in inverted commas because often, Western NGOs, journalists and academics have a common agenda with their governments based on a shared attitude, values, interests and norms. The result is that threats of aid cuts force governments of poor countries to respond by working to please aid givers rather than their own citizens. Thus, although Western governments, journalists, academics and activists are the leading self-appointed vanguards in the cause of democracy in our countries, the effect of their actions is to undermine democracy. Aid is the vehicle through which the interests of the donors are placed above the interests of citizens.

I used to think that anyone who gives you money would tend to act in such a manner. Yet Western countries are not the only ones that give aid. China and Japan do. But hardly does anyone hear them issue threats. This cannot be because they are undemocratic. Japan is as democratic as it gets. Besides, the worst dictatorships in Africa – wakina Mobutu Sese Seko, Samuel Doe, Siad Barre, etc have historically been propped by the West whenever it served their interests. Thus Asian restraint from interfering in the domestic politics of the recipients of their aid seems to be born of a deep seated and genuine respect for the sovereignty of poor countries.

Western aid comes with too many lectures and sermons on how our leaders should manage our affairs – always by adopting the policies, practices and institutions of the donor country. It is difficult to develop or emancipate one’s people when the actions taken are aimed at pleasing international masters rather than domestic constituencies. It is through aid and these emergent international institutions like the ICC that the West seems to be seeking to regain what it lost through decolonisation.

In the week the donors cut aid to Rwanda, a low level official in the State Department had the audacity to threaten President Paul Kagame with indictment before the ICC – an institution his own country has refused to subject itself to. All this is based on allegations in an addendum to a UN report. Never mind that the authors of the report did not even bother to ask Rwanda government officials to respond to accusations made against them individually and collectively. The authors say their sources are DRC officials and civilians. Western nations say they have deeply entrenched principles of fairness and natural justice. Was the disregard of such principles a mere oversight?

But let us assume, just for argument’s sake, that Rwanda is actively involved in arming M23 and supporting its operations. In 1994, it lost one million people in a space of 100 days and an entire country was devastated. The perpetrators of this evil are right across the border from Rwanda in eastern DRC – fully armed and sometimes supplied by Kinshasa. In eastern DRC live Tutsis with a shared existential threat as many in the leadership of Rwanda. Yet Rwanda is expected to do nothing about it. The country that is hosting these criminals is not being asked to account for its complicity in this problem. The UN has 17,000 troops in DRC who have never arrested even one killer. Instead it is asking the victims of genocide to sit back and wait until they are exterminated – exactly what it asked them to do in 1994.

Let us assume that it is the principle of international relations that a country should not get involved in another directly by having troops there or indirectly by supporting a local militia whose interests converge with its own. Therefore, Rwanda is only being asked to respect this established practice that all other nations adhere to. If Rwanda adopted this do-nothing-policy and the criminals invaded, who would be held accountable? The UN which failed it in 1994, Human Rights Watch and its leader Kenneth Roth who seems to care more about Africans in Congo than the millions of African-Americans rotting in jails in America, or is it the Americans, British, Germans and Dutch who by cutting aid are forcing the Rwanda government into inaction?

On September 9, 2011, the United States lost 3,000 people, four planes, two prominent buildings and a quarter of another. In response, it mobilised its NATO allies and they have for the last eleven years occupied Afghanistan – a country that is 20,000km from America. Among these NATO members are the Dutch, UK and Germany. They bomb, they kill and they rule there. Note: there was not a single Afghan citizen involved in 9/11; they were all Saudis and Egyptians. The only thing Afghanistan did was to harbour the perpetrators. Doesn’t Rwanda that lost a million people and an entire country deserve to also get involved in DRC – right across its border – where there is no state to protect its people against the threat of another genocide?

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WHAT INACTION?
written by Rajab Kakyama, August 04, 2012

In all fairness, I think Mwenda is lamenting with a tongue in cheek. He's a renowned opponent of aid. Your advisory role to the president is now half done. But that aside, Rwanda could have a genuine claim. Its only undoing is that it has failed to address it with an international body and opted for the mwendas and cliques of disoriented individuals, call them rebels in eastern Congo.

Great passionate article !
written by D. Oduki, August 04, 2012

Great article Andrew, What Dambissa Moyo was calling for years ago !
If there were many more Africans who felt as passionate about this issue as you Andrew, Africa's problems would be over.
I agree with you overall but what baffles me is WHY or WHY did African countries/ leaders sign themselves in at the ICC ????
I will have no sympathy for any African leader indicted by the ICC who has signed in.
Why wait till you are indicted and then complain about the injustice by the west ?
Un-sign the treaty now before you are indicted or shut up when you get indicted !
Really Pathetic, no wonder African's get walked all over by the west !

insightful indeed
written by david, August 05, 2012

Very true indeed. The thing that really surprised me was the way rwandophones have been being raped and killed in Congo for years by FDLR and congolese soldiers,and when they standup to demand justice,somehow displacement of people becomes a much bigger crime than murder. Another was when rwanda proposed for ICC to arrest FDLR leader Mudacumura,they blutantly refused(until of recent when the spotlight was on them) and instead chose Ntaganda and Luganga who initially stood up to protect their communities from FDLR.I really dont know what the west is up to,but i smell something fishy going on

-1

Kinshasha needs to fina a long term solution
written by Moses nuwagaba, August 05, 2012

For once i'm behind kagame on the Congo issue, there is no way any serious govt in kigali w'd/can allow 3m congolese banyarwanda to be exterminated by xenophobic militias & gvt forces. Any1 interested in peace need to convince kigali 2 allow all congolese refugees scattered in uganda & rwanda go back home

-2

Kinshasha needs to find a lasting solution
written by Moses nuwagaba, August 05, 2012

Sorry meant to say kinshasha, even if kigali stopped supporting M23 today the chore problem w'd still remain. For as long as there are refugees living outside congo, violence wil nt stop as these p'le wil try to go back forcefully. Besides there are many militia in congo nt affiliated 2 kli yet causing mayhem i wonder who's supporting them.

...
written by Lt .Col Adam kifaliso, August 05, 2012

Here Andrew is openly accepting that Rwanda is involved in DRC ,because of its past history , Andrew also questions the neutrality of Western Powers forgetting that he also behaved like them when he advocated and still advocates for innocence of a man who brought out a gun that killed and maimed many at Luzira , intelligence reports also indicate its Andrew who is behind the suits both Komakech and City planer wear when coming to court and their VIP living conditions at Luzira .Andrew also overlooks the plight of refugees who are now flocking into Uganda and NOT Rwanda , because Andrew knows his m7 will use them for Kasese by elections

Disgree
written by H, August 05, 2012

I live in Eastern DRC since 7 years, and have Rwandan family. On the principle, I agre with this article that every country, including Rwanda, has the right to defend itself. I however strongly disagree on 4 points:
- One has to make a decision: either Banyamulenges are Congolese, and therefore of no concern to Rwanda, or they are Rwandan, in which case they are of concern to Rwanda but one should question their presence in DRC. Please, have some consistency.
- M23 doesn't represent the Banyamulenges of DRC. Ask yourself why the FRF, the armed group representing the South Kivu Banyamulenges, didn't join the M23 and instead is remaining loyal to FARDC...

Follows...
written by H, August 05, 2012

- There is no case of widespread massacre of Banyamulenges in Eastern DRC recently. The defensive argument is worthless if there is no attack prior...
- M23 forced FARDC to concentrate on Goma (town of 1 million people, as much as Kigali, only logic they concentrate on its defense), leaving open space in South Kivu for MM Yakutumba and FDLR. So in fact, the M23 threat on Goma puts Banyamulenges of South Kivu in danger.

No FDLR attacks
written by H, August 05, 2012

I forgot to mention there has not been FDLR attacks of threats of against Rwanda since 1998. Since then, the FDLR causes issues in DRC rather than to Rwanda. In addition, it has been seriously weakened since the 2009 FARDC/RDF joint offensive and following FARDC operations. Today, FDLR poses absolutely no threat to Rwanda. If you believe it does, please develop explaining us when and how this last threat materialized. Thanks!

8000 000
written by Andrew Illogical Mwenda, August 05, 2012

Andrew Mwenda is an idiot.
Ever since I read on Twitter him saying that Rwanda is like Israel I am convinced of that.
He keeps comparing apples and donkeys.
Just like when he says that USA attacked Afghanistan after 9/11
Andrew... USA did it on claims that the terrorist were from there.
Congo has not attacked Rwanda. You still cannot convince the world that guarding the borders isn't the right thing to do.

followed
written by Andrew Illogical Mwenda, August 05, 2012

People keep talking about FDLR, i m starting to believe this is another case of Kony.
FDLR if they even still exist are weak, underarmed, underqualified, undertrained compared to Rwandan army.
So either Rwandan army is incompetent for 18 years and unable to dead the issue, or they aren't really trying or they are lying and that is not what they are doing there in the first place..

++
written by Andrew Illogical Mwenda, August 05, 2012

The funny thing about this is that everything is an open secret now, from the killing of Habyarimana, to the responsibility of the RPF in the genocide, to the RPF exterminating hutus and tutsis in the country.... people know.. but there are always idiots like Andrew who are paid by god knows who to remain idiots... and write article with little to no logic to defend the un defendable.
I got a question for you Andrew, if you don't want no collaboration with the westerners as you call them since they are the problem and they twist everything and they are crazy how about the gov refusing all aid.

end
written by Andrew Illogical Mwenda, August 05, 2012

Be independent, refuse the aid, close the doors and then tell the world to mind their business.
My I remind you all that 8 million black men and women have died in this. I know it means nothing to your blood thirsty money hungry mentality but I think it is worth stating over and over and over and over again. 8000 000.
i hear no Rwandan saying "Never again" for them. What hypocrisy. It is sad truly.

The last word: my reply to Andrew M. Mwenda
written by H, August 05, 2012

The comments here are too short. My full reply to this article can be found here: http://ciafrica.wordpress.com/...-aid-cuts/

Excellent Article Andrew
written by Garyhills, August 06, 2012

Andrew is really son of Africa. In brief, as long as Congolese with Rwanda origin are not recognised and treated same as other citizen, the issue will never be resolved, is the question of life or death as all Congolese believe they are Rwandans. So whether MOnusco assists FRDC to bomb (m23) with Helicopters and spent American, British and Eu taxpayers money, the problem will never be solved. No wonder M23 are fighting like Taliban as they have reason to fight for and No way to go as that is their mother land

-4

...
written by Judith, August 06, 2012

Andrew's feelings and writings have changed in the opposite of his previous approach. We can all see it. He is being a good "boy". Change the title of your publication because it is no longer suits it. How can you support action that not only invades a sovereign state but also violates the human rights of innocent civilians of that state. Haven't the people of eastern DRC had enough of Uganda and Rwanda's issues. Should they always be the grass? This argument is cheap-donor aid and their instructions in respect of this issue i do not buy. The Japanese and Chinese have a history, so they choose to be more diligent; even so know where to put their aid money. smilies/cry.gif

...
written by Sewy, August 06, 2012

Why must the Congolese pay the Rwandan genocide price? For how long will Kagame destabilize Congo in the name of pursuing genocide renegades? It is the Eastern Congolese dying and losing their homes and property for the last 12 or more years. They are also Africans and they deserve stability in their land. Kagame must not use genocide all the time to justify his shortfalls. The war in eastern Congo must stop and Kagame must stop supporting rebels and he must stop causing divisions in the Congolese army. A peaceful and stable eastern congo will automatically grantee Rwandan security.

Communication from the South Kivu Banyamulenge community dated July 27 2012
written by H, August 06, 2012

La Communauté rappelle qu’elle est engagée à soutenir les efforts de paix tant au niveau local et national mais craint que certains chefs et Leaders de la Communauté Bembe régulièrement cités dans ces crimes ne mettent en péril les efforts consentis par les deux Communautés et faire basculer le terroir dans les violences ethniques.

Nous ne pouvons pas nous empêcher de croire que ces criminels ne soient des alliés objectifs de ceux qui endeuillent notre pays par une guerre insensée au Nord-Kivu et qu’ils tentent désespérément de l’importer au Sud-Kivu . Nous demandons à toutes les Communautés de notre Province de s’élever comme un seul homme et faire échec à cette entreprise qui fait son bonhomme de chemin par ces criminels interposés.

-1

Signed by
written by H, August 06, 2012

Fait à Bukavu, le 27/07/2012

Pour la Communauté Banyamulenge :

----------------------------

Enock RUBERANGABO SEBINEZA

Député Honoraire
Président National, SHIKAMA/Banyamulenge

So Andrew, stop talking crap by saying M23 represents the Banyamulenges of DRC. The Banyamulenges themselves say they are not represented by M23, as written above by their leader. Misinformation is not journalism!

what a bunch of nonsense
written by BlaiseN, August 06, 2012

Really? the FDLR menacing the powerful RDF?Are we living in the same world?Just for the argument sake:how many time Rwanda sent his troops in DRC?I lost the count.Tell us how many systematic massacre are due to Fardc against Banyarwanda?Are all those Congoleses who die in daily basis just flies?Please,let's us be serious and not justify stupidities.If Rwanda and Uganda are serious about those groups, they should beef up security in their borders.That what honest leaders do.gnrl Masanzu, a banyamulenge is the commander of the sud kivus region.the cndp was controlling territories from Beni to minova.Stop those b.s

I wish I could be given what Kagame and M7 gave Mwenda
written by Diblo Dibala, August 06, 2012

Its so amazing looking back on how Andrew used to attack M7 left right center and even faced arrest a numbers of time. I will never forget when he was arrested for writing an article given to him by some UPDF fugitive on how they would disguise as rebels and kill the way Kony does in the North. Given who he is now, he can properly defend it that the fugitive soldiers was wrong. I wished I can as well get the Ethiopian lamb that was given to Andrew to change that far, I would be happy. Congs Andrew for whatever was you got this world is all about making money and dont bother again writing articles against corruption lest you declare that 'Ethiopian lamb' you received!

Andrew Open your eyes wildely
written by Tina, August 06, 2012

There is a lot of dilly darling and ping pong in the Congo/Rwanda crisis the issue is not as simple as AM puts it.you know what leaders in Africa are capable of doing if not monitored if only they had some love,concern and care towards their own people they wish to govern . UK & USA in whatever war they intervene in always mean well eg the war against terrorism but in Libya,Afghanistan, Iraq, they misfired b'se the issues turned up to be more complex than they had anticipated. Tony Blair served in the Rwanda Govt what is his view on this matter and PK

Genocide anywhere is Genocide!!
written by Maceni, August 06, 2012

Prevent genocide in Rwanda by commiting it in DR Congo ?! To justify such a policy under the guise of a real-politik argument completely devalues the worth of a Congolese life. Basically you are saying supporting the genocide of Congolese is simply collateral damage to prevent the threat of genocide to Rwandans?!!

Western hypocrisy at its stinking point
written by Denis Musinguzi, August 07, 2012

I have always had a belief that Africa would be miles better without the UN; their hypocritical behavior toward Rwanda seem to vindicate my belief. If anyone should be blamed for the mess in DRC, first would be the UN whose peacekeeping force is either securing the loot routes of their mother nations, or lavishing in luxury, grossing over the pain many an ordinary Congolese are facing. Second would be Congo itself, which has absently presided over a government beyond its means. If America is too worried of al qaeed and lowly janjaweed to be such ferocious to the far Arab community, where on earth do they get the moral capital to question Rwanda that faces a more disastrous situation right at its doorstep??!! Their hypocrisy just sucks!!

-2

Objectivity
written by marvin ya kuku, August 08, 2012

- If you mentioned western powers more than loss of life in Congo you are a waste of space
- Mwenda, explain more the threat from Congo to Rwanda. You talk of Genocide but I do not see it. Not to the levels of 94. Not even close. I only see a threat to the current establishment, threats that can be easily remedied without war.
- The whole region should start being objective. How is it in your interests to talk about foreign aid when a report claims your nation is destabilising. We really need a massive hippy movement in Africa that focusses on the real basic Human Rights issues rather than men who want to talk about US involvement in Afghanistan and NGOs when when talking about African problems

...
written by Lt .Col Adam kifaliso, August 08, 2012

Andrew I thought you would interview Kagame and post a video for us to see , oh even have live on youtube , you don't need a studio , just a camera which you can afford , microphone which you can afford , set of lights which you can afford , Broadband connection which you can be given and a good cameraman whom you can afford and a lady to serve water or a cup of hot , don't forget to inform us in advance to tune in , we want to see live interrogating Kagame , nice isn't it ?

continue reading
written by continue reading, August 10, 2012

Its seems that this post has been written by some expert. liked It **

-1

So it's true that Rwanda is behind all this upheaval after all
written by Muzukulu, August 10, 2012

For all those that are for Rwanda and Kagame why doesn't he come clean and admit that he has troops with and training the Banyamurenge. There is this myth that Banyamyrenge are being exterminated by Congolese how about the Hutus in Congo that Kagame has lumped as one calling them Intarahamwe ? These pile lived in peace before Musevenin and Kagame set the whole region on fire, from Neorthern Uganda to the genocide in 1994 and now the constant on and off skirmishes in East DRC that cause untold sufferieng to millions

Has run its course
written by Steven Nsubuga, August 10, 2012

This blame of western countries by dictators has run its course. Mwenda, isn't the same argument you are trying to make analogous to Uganda's situation? Look at the tools all African dictators use before you blame western countries. The very same tactics you are trying to demonise.
After all, without western powers speaking up on Human rights and freedom, what do you think African dictators would be doing now? Total calamitous situation would be written all over Africa beyond what it already is.
There would have been no elections however sham they are in Uganda. We would be running under the tutelage of Movement system where M7 would rule for life!

Genocide is genocide
written by John, August 10, 2012

Call it Western hypocrisy,blackmail or whatever, the fact is a tragedy is happening in DRC & those guys are concerned as always. Unlike the Russians and Chinese who will support anyone as long as he signs contracts with them, the West atleast has some minimal humanity, even in dealing with allies. Was not for them Besigye would be dead or in jail; Nelson Madela would be dead or in jail; Moi would still be ruling Kenya, etc. Genocide is genocide regardless of who is dying. Otherwise, Israel would have the liberty to kill every Arab simply because they suspect Arabs are a threat to them.

Correction
written by Barry O, August 10, 2012

Your piece ignores the simple fact Kagame has been found by international agencies to be orchestrating murder in the DRC...of course, then, the only right thing to do is cancel funding. You by contrast paint it as a "campaign against a poor country for behaving in a manner inconsistent with [the West's] desires." This conspiracy theory - pitting the Big Bad West stomping against Poor, Helpless Africa - is seductive, because it shifts blame to the outsider. But it doesn't fix anything. Kagame tried this trick following the UN’s findings Rwanda's involvement in the DRC - "It's a trumped-up claim by the West," he said in essence. THIS COMMENT CONTINUES IN THE NEXT MESSAGE BELOW.

Correction II
written by Barry O, August 10, 2012

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE....You and others were quick to defend him. In time, though, a strong counter-body of evidence has emerged, revealing his conspiracy as little more than hate-filled scapegoating intended to perpetuate his rule (and western support). So what's left? You, here, reduced to "assuming...that Rwanda is actively involved in arming M23" and then defending the barbarism of it all.

Mwenda and (Dambisya Moyo) are disingenuous simpletons
written by Ocheto, August 10, 2012

This is an abvious snide attack on aid. The arguement against aid on the grounds that it is the cause for Africa's failure to develop blah, blah, is the weakest, silliest and simplest there is to be blamed on Africa woes. And guess what? Dambisya Moyo wrote a Harvard doctorate, no less, on it, and the west loves it too, especially when she has to go around the world defending this silly thesis. So for Mwenda to pretend to attack the west when he, too, made his global name taking pro-western stands, e.g. bashing aid, is, as usual, the most disingenuous twisted nonsense there is.

Should you not be happy?
written by Omeros, August 11, 2012

I don't know that invoking the Bush doctrine is the wisest thing to do given how that turned out for Bush and the United States, which has been sent packing from an Iraq that it leaves a hotbed of sectarian violence and, 11 years down the line in Afghanistan, has been fought to an ignominious standstill. America's global image was vastly undermined by the open flouting of international law perpetrated by the Bush Republicans. In November 2008, Bush and his crew ultimately paid for their intransigence. In any case, the withdrawal of budgetary support is surely a good thing for those dependency theorists who regard the aid bargain as a compromise of the sovereignty of debtor nations, no? So why the angry tone and long face?

...
written by Lt .Col Adam kifaliso, August 11, 2012

Oh dear , I always have a tickle when my friend Ocheto throws in something , one thing we forget , is that , Andrew no longer talks from his head but his pockets , he is also being used by international thieves to access to the 2 of Great Lakes Region Tutsi dictators , Andrew in his hole in Luzira runs the 2 govt foreign policies and many other things , like convincing the Ugandan demented dictator that his economic policies are the same to those of western world and this makes him an ally of the west ,now we are lying to ourselves that Andrew is neutral in thinking , Andrew is looking after his pockets and busy lobbing for more business in Rwanda and Uganda , Andrew even has shares in Karuma Dam project after apologising to m7 for causing delay

...
written by Omeros, August 11, 2012

"If Rwanda adopted this do-nothing-policy and the criminals invaded, who would be held accountable?...Human Rights Watch and its leader Kenneth Roth who seems to care more about Africans in Congo than the millions of African-Americans rotting in jails in America...?" Andrew, you can afford to tone down your rhetoric. The US Department of Justice estimates the US prison population as at 2010 at c. 1.4m of which 560,000 answer to the description of 'black' or 'African American'. I know you feel passionately about Rwanda but don't allow that to skew your judgement.

Interesting comments
written by Biragane, August 11, 2012

Quite honestly, I just come here to read comments. I wish monitor publication would allow people to comment freely the way yahoo and other western portals do. I lost interest in Mwendas articles. The more you listen or read his articles the more confused he appears. He says or writes something today, then couple of months later he flip flops on the same topic. He is like a turkey that begins chasing a grasshopper, then forgets and just keep running.

PR Puff piece
written by James Smith, August 11, 2012

I am doing a mini thesis on African journalism with you as my subject going back to the days when you were arrested while working for the monitor to your days studying in the US, to now. Personally i wonder what the Andrew Mwenda back then would think of the Andrew Mwenda today.
i hope to present it sometime in 2013 at your Alma mater, once i sift through the treasure trove of information and separate fact from fiction.I still need to figure out how rwanda ties into all of this.
You were highly regarded @ your alma mater. i am curious to see what the response will be. Time will tell

...
written by mike d, August 15, 2012

It would appear that Andrew Mwenda and many Ugandan journalists e.g Allan Kasujja are part of Paul Kagame's PR machinery.They may as well indicate this at the bottom of their articles and Andrew Mwenda shouldnt call his magazine the independent-Its dependent on Paul Kagame.

-1

Louis Vuitton Bags
written by Louis Vuitton Bags, August 18, 2012

Any Louis Vuitton bags are sold with all highly sought after purchase or simply during the department stores for very affordable price tags. A good number of products and services are constructed from canvas signifying they're just water-resistant and so ideally suited through rainy changing seasons.

-1

...
written by Shafic, August 26, 2012

When you read these comments, you realize that over 2/3 are either abusive or attacking individuals rather than analyzing issues in their context. you also realize that others have some read some information many years back and the info is stuck in their little heads.
my advise is that get deeper into the issue before you put yo comment.
Thank you Andrew and others who try to be genuine in their reason.

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