Politics

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,704894,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/10479882.stm

Here are two links to recent interviews with President Kagame. One is with BBC, and the other is with Spiegel, a foreign news source. They're both very interesting and I agree with some things, although I don't agree with everything in either of them. There's a lot being said and written and reported lately about the political situation in Rwanda. The 2nd free elections are coming up in less than a month on August 9, and Kagame is in a prime position to win, along with his RPF party. Everyone expects and knows he will win, but it's how he will win that is so important to the country.

Three of the main opposition parties have been arrested and thrown in prison or placed on house arrest. Others have received death threats, and/or have been unable to register their parties for some reason. Many have been arrested for vaguely collaborating with "terrorist organizations" or for denying the genocide. Now, there are only 4 other candidates, and many believe that at least 2 of them are "stooge" candidates who are with the RPF, Kagame's party. Regardless of whether or not that's true, just the fact that the more vocal opposition candidates are totally out of the race looks bad to outsiders, especially groups like Human Rights campaign. So, of course, since there are candidates who aren't being allowed to run and are being jailed or exiled, this has created a sense of fear and paranoia among many Rwandans.

There have also been assassinations and assassination attempts that some are attempting to link to the government and they have caused fear as well, leaving many to believe there are big rifts in Kagame's RPF party. One of Kagame's generals, Nyanwasa, fled to South Africa and told his story to the press of what was going on. Later, he was injured in an assassination attempt. Two other military advisors to Kagame, a Major-General and Lt-General were arrested in April. And yet another Brig-General was arrested while heading to the World Cup in June. The Chief of Staff of a high official from an oppostion party was assassinated in late June.

The Press has been weakened also during the 6 months that have led to these elections. 3 newspapers have been shutdown entirely or either banned from operating for 6 months until elections are over. The acting Editor of one of those newspapers was assassinated in his home in late June. In addition, a number of Rwandans who are activists currently living in Burundi have been arrested and extradited to Rwanda. I'm not so sure banning these newspapers is the answer. When they are allowed to publish again, they will continue to publish whatever it was they were publishing before that angered the government, and they will be banned all over again. I think it would be better to have a council talk to them and advise them on more ethical journalistic practices if there is a problem, instead of banning them and having the government look like the bad guys.

And of course, the series of grenade attacks in Kigali have created an atmosphere of paranoia among many. The first one was in February, and the most recent in May. There are several theories about who could be behind the attacks. The one that seems to have gained the most credence is that Nkunda sympathisers are to blame. Laurent Nkunda, the CNDP warlord leader, has been held under house arrest in Rwanda since January, 2009, and it was his chief of staff that was assassinated in late June.

Of course there is no evidence of government involvement in any of these events. Regardless of who is guilty though, all these events, have helped increase levels of paranoia, suspicion and fear among voters lately. Despite the denials of Kagame's party that “everything will come back to normal” after the election, suspicion is rife that there are deep rifts within the RPF.

It will certainly be interesting to see how things play out this next month. I'm glad to be back home of course, and will be praying for my "other" home this next month! Please join me!