Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Centre for Democracy and Development is demanding that agreements signed between Rwanda and Mozambique be made public. For the NGO, the Mozambican government should disclose all bilateral decisions.
“The government must inform Mozambicans about agreements signed with the Kigali regime during the visit of Paul Kagamé,” the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) says in a statement.
The Rwandan head of state’s working visit began on Friday (24-09) in Cabo Delgado province and, on Sunday, President Kagamé participated in the celebrations of Mozambique’s Armed Defence Forces Day (September 25).
Without advancing particulars, President Nyusi described the pair’s work agenda as encompassing the taking of “important decisions”.
The CDD thinks the agreements and decisions taken during the meetings between Nyusi and Kagamé should be revealed by the Mozambican head of state, especially at a time when Rwandan forces are supporting Mozambique in the fight against insurgent groups in Cabo Delgado.
“The secrecy surrounding important decisions and agreements signed with the Kigali regime comes at a time when it is unclear what price Mozambique will pay for Rwanda’s military intervention in the fight against violent extremism in Cabo Delgado,” the CDD communiqué maintains.
This evening in Pemba, President Kagame is attending a dinner hosted in his honour by Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi. pic.twitter.com/BkXEsQf9J3
Increased fear
The non-governmental organization also says that Kagamé’s visit has increased apprehension in the Rwandan community residing in Mozambique, which often complains of persecution at the hands of the Kigali regime. These concerns resurfaced on the September 13th with the shooting in Matola of a Rwandan businessman who had been a refugee in Mozambique since 1996, a crime yet to be clarified and which occurs at a time marked by a clear approximation between the Maputo and Kigali governments.
Rwandan refugees denounce the Kigali regime’s target list and call for intervention by the Mozambican state
Rwanda was the first foreign country to deploy troops on the ground in Mozambique, under a bilateral agreement to fight armed groups that have been carrying out armed attacks in Cabo Delgado province since 2017, in a conflict that has already claimed 3,100 lives and displaced more than 817,000 people.
With the support of 1,000 Rwandan soldiers, Maputo has regained “important” rebel bases and locations that had been occupied during the nearly four years of armed insurgency in Cabo Delgado.
Rwanda’s leader since 1994, Paul Kagame is credited with developing the country after the Tutsi genocide that year, but the Rwandan head of state is also accused of limiting freedom of expression and repressing the opposition.
