Relations Between Rwanda And DR Congo Focus Of Ban's Talks In Kigali
New York, Mar 1 2009 3:10PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President Paul Kagame discussed the situation in the
border region between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) today during their meeting in Kigali, the
current stop on the United Nations chief's five-nation Africa trip.
"I expressed to President Kagame my satisfaction at the steps he has taken to open a new chapter in Rwanda-DRC
relations," Mr. Ban told reporters after his meeting, adding that he is "heartened" by the President's intention to
establish full diplomatic relations with DRC.
In a move supported by the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUC), DRC and Rwanda launched a joint military offensive in
January against the ethnic Hutu militia known as the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR), which has caused
havoc in the eastern part of DRC for years.
Mr. Ban noted that t he joint operation appears to have made progress. At the same time, he urged President Kagame "to
ensure that these operations do not affect negatively the civilian population and humanitarian access to those in need."
Just a couple of weeks ago, MONUC reported that the FDLR is conducting a campaign of terror, systematically raping,
murdering, looting and abducting civilians in an attempt to undermine the joint operation.
Since then the mission has boosted its efforts to protect and reassure threatened populations, mostly in North Kivu
province where some 250,000 civilians have been uprooted by fighting between Hutu groups, a mainly Tutsi militia known
as the CNDP, the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and others since August.
Mr. Ban had a chance to hear some of the concerns of the civilians uprooted by the fighting, when he met earlier in the
day with a group of people living in the Kibati camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) near Goma, the provincial
capital of North Kiv u..
"Their first concern is security," Mr. Ban noted during his visit to the camp. "Even though they want to return, they
fear that when they do, they may be attacked by the FDLR. This must stop, and the United Nations, led by MONUC and the
FARDC will provide the necessary security and safety to those returning to their homes."
Another concern is humanitarian assistance, and in this regard, the Secretary-General appealed for support from all
quarters to enable the UN and others to provide the vital relief that the IDPs need.
He also expressed his gratitude to the many aid agencies and their partners who are assisting those at the camp, which
at the peak of the crisis sheltered more than 80,000 IDPs. It currently has some 20,000 residents.
Mr. Ban noted that his visit to the camp, as well as yesterday's meeting in Goma with victims of sexual violence, has
"strengthened my resolve to work even harder for all those many people who need our support."
In addition to DRC and Rwanda, the Secretary-General also visited South Africa and Tanzania on his current trip, which
will take him next to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for an international conference on Gaza's reconstruction.
ENDS