Rwanda said it was open to the return of exiled dissidents, even as it drew a hard line on Lt Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa and other people it says are wanted by the justice system.
Foreign Affairs minister Richard Sezibera told journalists in Kigali that no talks had yet taken place with South Africa, despite reports that the Pretoria government and Kigali were exploring a way forward after relations broke down in March 2014.
“We haven’t had any talks yet. The heads of State met and agreed to normalise relations between the two countries. They asked their Foreign Affairs Ministers to meet and discuss the matter. We haven’t met yet,” Dr Sezibera said at the briefing.
He added that Rwanda’s position on returnees was unchanged, saying those who left the country could come back and even attend the National Dialogue, known as Umushyikirano, scheduled for December.
“I don’t know anything regarding Kayumba Nyamwasa. Our task is to meet between our two countries and restore relations,” he said.
But Sezibera separated that diplomatic track from the question of accountability, saying: “As for Kayumba Nyamwasa and others wanted by our justice system for the crimes they committed, that is a different matter which has nothing to do with the plans to restore ties between Rwanda and South Africa.”
The tensions between Kigali and Pretoria deepened after the murder of former Rwanda External Intelligence chief Col Patrick Karegeya in January 2014 and a second attempt on the life of former army Chief of Staff Lt Gen Nyamwasa in March 2014. South Africa responded by expelling three Rwandan diplomats, and Rwanda sent home six South African diplomats in retaliation.
Rwanda has also accused the exiled opposition group Rwanda National Congress, which Nyamwasa is said to have helped found, of carrying out grenade attacks between 2010 and 2013 that it says killed scores of people.
Nyamwasa was sentenced to 24 years in prison by a military court in 2011 after being found guilty of forming a terrorist group, threatening state security, undermining public order, promoting ethnic divisions and insulting the president. Rights groups later described the ruling as politically motivated.
Context ¶
The latest remarks came as Rwanda and South Africa sought to rebuild relations after years of hostility. Kigali’s message was that reconciliation between states would not amount to a blanket settlement for individuals facing criminal accusations at home.
Key dates in the dispute ¶
- 2010 to 2013: Rwanda says grenade attacks linked to the RNC killed scores of people.
- January 2014: Col Patrick Karegeya was murdered.
- March 2014: A second attempt was made on Lt Gen Nyamwasa’s life, and relations between Rwanda and South Africa collapsed.
- 2011: Nyamwasa was sentenced to 24 years in prison by a military court.
- November 21, 2018: Richard Sezibera said no talks had yet been held with South Africa.
