Rwanda calls for full implementation of Lusaka agreement

The Rwandan delegation to the Security Council debate demanded the full implementation of the Lusaka accord, including disarming the Interahamwe and ex-FAR. “A lot of time has been dedicated to discussing the deployment of a peacekeeping force, which is of course important, but other equally important provisions like the disarmament of negative forces has not been properly handled,” Patrick Mazimhaka, the Rwandan minister in charge of the presidency, told IRIN on Monday. He believed there was not a strong commitment to disarm the armed groups as provided for in the agreement. “There is an obvious lack of creativity on how to disarm these negative forces. Everybody seems to be terrified by the idea of sending troops to the jungles of Congo to track down these people, but on a positive note we are encouraged by strong statements on this issue from England, France and Belgium.”

“Our position is that earlier [UN] resolutions like cutting off arms supplies, diplomatic pressure and other measures aimed at criminalising these negative forces should be operationalised,” he added.