Kigali to expose “forces” behind UN allegations

The Rwandan government has vowed to expose the “forces” behind allegations contained in a leaked UN report accusing Vice-President and Defence Minister Paul Kagame of allowing rebel Angolan UNITA officials to operate freely in the country. “There is a deliberate conspiracy by some organisations and individuals to tarnish the image of Rwanda internationally and this plot has been going on for some time,” Nicholas Shalita, the director of information in Kagame’s office told IRIN on Tuesday. “At this stage we cannot take it any more. We shall expose them [the forces] after we study the allegations in the UN report.”

A press statement released by Rwandan defence ministry on Monday denied any link with UNITA. “The government of the Republic of Rwanda awaits the report of the UN Security Council’s Angola sanctions committee in order to make a detailed response to the allegations that Rwanda is involved in violating UN sanctions on UNITA,” the statement said. “Vice-President Kagame has never had any contact with Jonas Savimbi or any member of UNITA. Antonio Dembo, whom the report alleges visited Rwanda to meet government officials, is not known to the vice-president or any member of the government or armed forces. Whoever made any such claim should be considered a liar, and treated with the contempt they deserve.”