Rwanda statement at the high-level segment of the Human Rights Council 52nd session

Geneva, Switzerland | THE INDEPENDENT | Rwanda has stated that the situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is a major human rights challenge for the international community. In a statment at the High-Level Segment of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday, Rwanda insists, the conflict there was however started by, and is the responsibility of, the Government of DRC.

“It is a dishonest political stunt to turn a domestic conflict about the fundamental rights of Congolese citizens into an accusation against Rwanda, right here in the Human Rights Council,” said Dr.  Vincent Biruta, Rwanda’s Minister for foreign affairs.

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Rwanda Statement at the High-Level Segment of the Human Rights Council, virtually delivered by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Dr.  Vincent Biruta during the 52nd Session at the United Nations Office in Geneva’s Palais des Nations. 

Read the full declaration here: 

Mr President,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to start by congratulating High Commissioner Volker Türk as this is his first session in this capacity and assure him of Rwanda’s good collaboration. I also congratulate Ambassador Václav Bálek for his election to the Presidency of the Human Rights Council.

Rwanda was reviewed through Universal Periodic Review for the 3^rd time in January 2021. Rwanda is preparing to conduct the mid-term evaluation of progress. Rwanda remains committed to upholding its human rights obligations, as enshrined in the Constitution, and other national, regional, and international standards.

We need to renew our joint commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and discuss frankly the challenges of politicization of human rights frameworks.

The situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is a major human rights challenge for the international community. However, the conflict there was started by, and is the responsibility of, the Government of DRC. It is a dishonest political stunt to turn a domestic conflict about the fundamental rights of Congolese citizens into an accusation against Rwanda, right here in the Human Rights Council. This is a political tactic that always comes up in DRC before elections, to whip up populist support and silence opposition. Meanwhile, the DRC has refused all peace plans from the regional processes.

We also object to the characterization of Congolese refugees as a “false pretext”. These refugees are people with rights, who fled because of the very governance problems which are at the root of the conflict, and who are targeted by constant hate speech and targeted killings incited by the DRC government because of their ethnicity. They are people who should be able to go home in safety and dignity.

The preservation of the genocidal militia FDLR by the DRC, whose army FARDC continues to arm and fight alongside the FDLR is a major cause of conflict and human rights abuses in Eastern DRC, and a serious threat to Rwanda’s security.

The Human Rights Council should not countenance the type of hypocrisy and double standards proffered by the President of the DRC.

I thank you for your kind attention.