Rwanda: President Kagame begins visit to districts ‘under’ rebel command

President Paul Kagame has started a tour of six districts which rebels of National Liberation Front (FLN) claim to have occupied.

The last leg of the tour will see the president visit Nyamasheke district, where Nyungwe Forest National Park is located, according to local reports. 

FLN rebels claim to be operating parts of Nyungwe Forest National Park. 

In March, 2019 the rebels claimed to have dislodged Rwanda Defence Forces from Nyamasheke District. 

“From Friday, the 15th of March 2019, our forces are in full control of the Northern regions of Nyungwe forest specifically around areas bordering Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru sectors,” claimed Maj. Callixte N. Sankara the FLN Spokesperson. Maj. Sankara has since been arrested and will be brought before court soon, according to Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Richard Sezibera, 

Rwanda Energy Group (REG) recently announced plans to install streetlights on the 97-kilometer road network of Nyamagabe – Nyamasheke and Pindura– Bweyeye, which passes through the park. 

“Within two months, we shall have connected that road to the national grid. The intention is to assure security, promote business and tourism in Nyungwe and its vicinity,” said Joseph Ntwari , the REG regional director in Rusizi district. 

Quoting a statement from the President’s Office, the head of state will also be in Burera and Musanze districts, which border Uganda.  

Burera is where Cyanika border crossing is located. 

Recently Rwanda Defence Forces Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Patrick Nyamvumba is quoted to have cautioned communities near the border with Uganda against crossing. 

Currently relations between Uganda and Rwanda have hit an all-time low with Rwanda accusing Uganda of supporting rebel groups opposed to President Kagame’s government. 

Relations between the two nations soured in February after Rwanda blocked Ugandan cargo trucks from entering its territory at the busiest crossing point, Gatuna, and barred its nationals from crossing into Uganda. 

Sezibera then accused Uganda of offering support to two foreign-based Rwanda rebel groups – Rwanda National Congress (RNC) and Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). 

“RNC and FDLR work from Uganda with support of some authorities there. This is another serious case and we have raised it with them,” he told a news conference in Kigali. 

Rwanda depends for much of its imports on a trade route through Uganda to Kenya’s Indian Ocean port of Mombasa. The same artery is also a pipeline for goods from Kenya and Uganda to Burundi and parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. 

President Kagame will also visit Rubavu , bordering DRC, Rutsiro and Karongi districts.