Rwanda, South Africa quietly try to mend fences

South African President Jacob Zuma (left) and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. FILE 

By A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, The EastAfrican

In Summary

• Sources privy to the matter say that several regional leaders and bodies have been trying to mediate after both countries remained defiant and defensive.
• Kigali maintains that Pretoria should stop giving protection to its perceived enemies, mainly Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa and other members of the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), whom it accuses of plotting to overthrow a legitimate government using violence.
• The South African government has reportedly asked Mr Nyamwasa and others to cut down on their political activism on South African soil.

Rwanda and South Africa are working behind the scenes to bury the hatchet months after a fierce row that saw both countries expel diplomats over accusations that Rwanda had breached the sovereignty of South Africa.

 

Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Jacob Zuma of South Africa were expected to meet in the Equatorial Guinea capital Malabo on the sidelines of the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union to discuss how the two countries could mend fences.

Last week, Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said there are efforts to address the issues between the two countries.

“These difficulties were to be expected because there were a number of diplomats that were at the South African High Commission here in Kigali and they are no longer there, as is the case for our own High Commission in Pretoria.

“Only High Commissioners remained. So difficulties were to be expected and, yes, there are efforts to try to end these tensions and reappoint the diplomats and so on and so forth, so basically that’s on the way,” Ms Mushikiwabo said.

The South African High Commissioner to Rwanda George Nkosinati Twala too confirmed the developments but declined to give details.

“There have been discussions between the two countries. I am not sure if there will be a meeting on the issue in Malabo where the two heads of state are at the AU meeting but if they happen to meet, there is a possibility that this issue could be resolved there. The most important thing is that the two countries are finding a way to sort out this problem, like Mushikiwabo said,” Mr Twala said.

Sources privy to the matter say that several regional leaders and bodies have been trying to mediate after both countries remained defiant and defensive.

Kigali maintains that Pretoria should stop giving protection to its perceived enemies, mainly Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa and other members of the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), whom it accuses of plotting to overthrow a legitimate government using violence.

“South Africa is considering relocating Gen Nyamwasa and a few more people deemed ‘enemies of the state’ by Kigali to a third party country if diplomatic ties are to be fully restored,” a source privy to the matter said.

READ: South Africa, Rwanda engage in diplomatic row over so-called dissidents

Information from intelligence sources indicate that one European country and another in the Caribbean had showed willingness to offer Gen Nyamwasa asylum. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the former army chief of staff is planning to secretly relocate with his family.

Following the diplomatic tiff, Ms Mushikiwabo said that the disagreements were centred on South Africa’s continued protection of “wanted fugitives” who had declared a war on a legitimate government from its territory.

She said it is something Rwanda cannot agree on with South Africa, because the said individuals continue to make similar pronouncements that threaten a standing government.

The South African government has reportedly asked Mr Nyamwasa and others to cut down on their political activism on South African soil.