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Congo implores UN not to elect Rwanda to security council Rwanda joins UN security council despite damning Congo report
(about 1 hour later)
Rwanda's likely election to the UN security council has been branded an embarrassment in the wake of a UN report that the country is fuelling a violent uprising in a neighbouring country. Rwanda's election to the UN security council on Thursday was branded a major embarrassment in the wake of a UN report claiming that the country is fuelling a violent uprising in a neighbouring country.
Rwanda is unopposed in its bid on Thursday for the non-permanent African seat on the security council – currently held by South Africa – but it still has to be approved by two-thirds of the UN general assembly members present to secure a two-year term. It is theoretically possible that Rwanda will fail to secure the necessary votes but this is seen as unlikely. Rwanda was unopposed in its bid for a non-permanent African seat on the security council – previously held by South Africa.
The timing of Rwanda's ascent could hardly be more uncomfortable for the UN security council, whose own group of experts have produced a damning report of its support for the rebel M23 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).The timing of Rwanda's ascent could hardly be more uncomfortable for the UN security council, whose own group of experts have produced a damning report of its support for the rebel M23 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Atoki Ileka, Congo's special envoy to the UN, said: "It is a dreadful day and a very sad day for Africa because the security council is the UN body in charge of peace and security, and this is a country not committed to peace and security. Atoki Ileka, Congo's ambassador to France and former envoy to the UN, said: "It is a dreadful day and a very sad day for Africa because the security council is the UN body in charge of peace and security, and this is a country not committed to peace and security. It's very embarrassing for the UN."
"It's very embarrassing for the UN. Its members should vote against Rwanda. Rwanda is not going to have the vote of the DRC." Ileka remained hopeful, however, that the security council would "rubber stamp" the group of experts' final report before Rwanda takes its seat. The report is due to be presented next month whereas Rwanda will not become a member until 1 January 2013.
Ileka remained hopeful, however, that the security council would "rubber stamp" the group of experts' final report before Rwanda takes its seat. The report is due to be presented next month whereas Rwanda would not become a member until 1 January 2013.
From this date onward, however, there is the prospect of division and deadlock. The Congolese government is demanding that the security council impose targeted sanctions against Rwandan and Ugandan officials named in the UN experts' report.From this date onward, however, there is the prospect of division and deadlock. The Congolese government is demanding that the security council impose targeted sanctions against Rwandan and Ugandan officials named in the UN experts' report.
An unnamed western diplomat told Reuters that getting unanimity among the 15 council members on Congo's rebellion would be difficult with Rwanda in the room.An unnamed western diplomat told Reuters that getting unanimity among the 15 council members on Congo's rebellion would be difficult with Rwanda in the room.
Carina Tertsakian, senior researcher on Rwanda for Human Rights Watch, said: "It presents a clear conflict of interest. Rwanda could become a member of the UN security council yet it has for several years undermined initiatives of the security council, for example the arms embargo on Congo. Carina Tertsakian, senior researcher on Rwanda for Human Rights Watch, said before Rwanda's election that its membership would present "a clear conflict of interest", saying the country had "for several years undermined initiatives of the security council, for example the arms embargo on Congo".
"Our fear is that having a seat on the security council will enable Rwanda to protect its own officials from sanctions. For the victims – Congolese or Rwandan – of violent abuses by M23, this is a real affront." She added: "Our fear is that having a seat on the security council will enable Rwanda to protect its own officials from sanctions. For the victims – Congolese or Rwandan – of violent abuses by M23, this is a real affront."
An extract of the UN report leaked to Reuters this week named the Rwandan defence minister general, James Kabarebe, a close ally of President Paul Kagame, as effectively commanding the rebellion. It also accused both Rwanda and Uganda of providing weapons, troops and military and political aid to the M23 rebels in their six-month fight against Congolese government troops.An extract of the UN report leaked to Reuters this week named the Rwandan defence minister general, James Kabarebe, a close ally of President Paul Kagame, as effectively commanding the rebellion. It also accused both Rwanda and Uganda of providing weapons, troops and military and political aid to the M23 rebels in their six-month fight against Congolese government troops.
The report has also intensified pressure on Britain to review its decision to restore £16m of aid to Kagame's government.The report has also intensified pressure on Britain to review its decision to restore £16m of aid to Kagame's government.
Rwanda accused the head of the group of experts of "pursuing a political agenda". Uganda called the allegations "rubbish, rubbish, rubbish".Rwanda accused the head of the group of experts of "pursuing a political agenda". Uganda called the allegations "rubbish, rubbish, rubbish".
Five security council seats are to be filled in elections on Thursday. There are five veto-holding permanent members of the council – the US, Britain, France, Russia and China – and 10 temporary members without vetoes. Five security council seats were due to be filled in elections on Thursday. There are five veto-holding permanent members of the council – the US, Britain, France, Russia and China – and 10 temporary members without vetoes.
Rwandan UN diplomat Olivier Nduhungirehe said his country was not worried about the report harming its security council bid. "The members of the general assembly know exactly what our record is and they cannot be deterred or swayed by a baseless report, which has no credibility," he told Reuters. Rwandan UN diplomat Olivier Nduhungirehe had said his country was not worried about the report harming its security council bid. "The members of the general assembly know exactly what our record is and they cannot be deterred or swayed by a baseless report, which has no credibility," he told Reuters.
"We are the sixth [biggest] troop-contributing country for peacekeeping, we are a leading country in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, we have a record in post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building.""We are the sixth [biggest] troop-contributing country for peacekeeping, we are a leading country in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, we have a record in post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building."
Argentina is running unopposed for the Latin American and Caribbean states' seat, but there is a three-way competition in both the Asia-Pacific group and the "Western European and Others" group.
Rwanda was last on the council in 1994-95, a period that coincided with the genocide of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.Rwanda was last on the council in 1994-95, a period that coincided with the genocide of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.