• MONUC incapable, needs enhancement to keep peace

NYARUGENGE - Former British Premier, Tony Blair, Thursday evening said the arrest in Germany of the country’s Director of State Protocol Rose Kabuye was an unfortunate development that should be resolved quickly.

Blair was addressing the press late Thursday evening after meeting President Paul Kagame at State House in Kiyovu.

Kabuye’s arrest in Germany on Sunday was on the basis of an arrest warrant stemming from fraudulent and widely condemned indictments by French Judge, Jean Louis Bruguière, who falsely claims that she played a role in the downing of former Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana’s plane.

"I think the most important thing about this unfortunate situation that has happened this way is that it should be resolved as quickly as possible,” he said, when pressed to comment about the indictments and Kabuye’s arrest.

He also briefly responded to questions on the region’s security situation, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) crisis.

On the DR Congo crisis, he pointed out that he thought the situation was very risky, and that all rebel groups should be disbanded.

"And there is a problem of a UN force incapable of keeping the peace, making sure that people, in whatever situation, wherever they come from, are protected,” he noted.

"At the moment, that protection is not being given. What is important is that the Nairobi agreement is implemented,” he said, pointing out that the UN force should be strengthened and its mandate should be such that it’s able to keep the peace.”

"That’s the only solution to this,” he emphasised.
Blair had earlier reiterated his support to Rwanda’s development – the main reason for his visit.

His team of experts have been in the country since July, working to build government capacity and helping attract inward investment.

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