By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 22 – After the UN Security Council met about the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, Rwanda's Olivier Nduhungirehe spoke to Inner City Press. He said the report tried to “scapegoat” Rwanda for the failures of the UN Peacekeeping mission MONUSCO to defend Goma.
They couldn't stop the M23, so they say the M23 had outside support, he said. Where is the evidence?
“The way they took Goma suggests outside report. That is a baseless accusation. You are defeated so you say the other guy has outside support,” Nduhungirehe told Inner City Press.
He said Permanent Representative Gasana told other Council members, “we cannot be the scapegoat of all the failures in the DRC, including the failure of MONUSCO to protect the city of Goma. They have to do their job.”
Speaking of the signing scheduled for Addis Ababa on February 24 -- “eleven plus one countries and four guarantors” -- he said it will have to be implemented. “It is not the first agreement signed about the DRC,” he reminded.
Inner City Press asked if UN envoy Roger Meece, who did not speak at the stakeout (and does not follow Ban Ki-moon's urging to more public financial disclosure) had provided any evidence beyond the February 15 report. No, Nduhungirehe said.
Another Rwandan diplomat told Inner City Press his country had emphasized that the peacekeeping force must be “impartial.” We'll see - watch this site.
