|
The government of the Netherlands has announced that it is cutting off development aid to Rwanda in protest over Kigali's support for the Banyamulenge rebels in Congo led by Laurent Nkunda.
The report was prepared by the Rwanda News Agency:
Kigali, 11 December - The Netherlands has ended its development aid to Rwanda in response to a UN report detailing the "direct support" that both Kigali and Kinshasa governments are giving to different rebel groups in eastern Congo, Dutch radio reported Thursday.
UN experts claim Rwandan banks, military, companies and businessmen are aiding DRC dissident General Laurent Nkunda run his war machine, in a classified report to be discussed on Monday by the Security Council.
Rebel factions have organized funding for their efforts in part by exploiting mines in the region for manpower and to siphon money into secret bank accounts, the experts said.
Dutch Development Minister Bert Koenders is said to have expressed concern with the UN report's conclusions and has asked Rwanda for an explanation, according to Radio Netherlands - the country's public broadcaster.
It remains to be seen how President Paul Kagame will react to this latest development from Europe. Previously he has accused some European nations of supporting "genocidaires" and cut off diplomatic relations with them.
In the last incident when a Rwandan government official Ms Rose Kabuye was arrested in Germany, demonstrators who allegedly included soldiers and policemen dressed as civilians protested outside the German embassy in Kigali.
Readers Comments:
13 Dec 2008
1.
Editor,
Dutch aid to Rwanda is only 3M euros (other aid, e.g for schooling, continues). The profits Rwanda extracts from Congo dwarf such aid. I don't think a country like Rwanda needs any aid. All that is needed is a redistribution of wealth and a proper investment strategy for the looted profits from Congo.
Similar cases can be made for other countries. Uganda has men so rich they can buy a mosquito net for each under aged person in the country and still have billions of Shillings left. Why would donors have to send money for nets when the country has such wealthy people? Let them invest their wealth in an industry that would produce nets - which would also create employment.
And this goes for many other filthy rich Ugandans as well. The problem is not lack of money. The problem is a lack of humanity. Much like Europe in the 18th and 19th century which was only overcome after many decades of hard struggle by the masses.
Joseph.
The Netherlands.
|