A section of Rwandans in the diaspora have cited challenges in accessing services from embassies and embassy staff. The diaspora community who are in the country on holiday on Tuesday this week met Foreign Affairs Minister and other government agencies over a breakfast interaction. Among the challenges that they cited was the quality of services in some of the Rwandan embassies which include lack of involvement in events and national affairs. They said that as much as they would like to be involved in national development, often there were gaps in their access and interactions with the embassy staff. If addressed, they noted, it would things see them more involved in national development. They also appealed for adjustment of services such as access to identity cards without having to travel to the country as well as notary services to facilitate transactions transfer of land ownership. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Vincent Biruta said that the ministry would follow up with the embassies to ensure that they serve to solve challenges experienced by Rwandans abroad as well as provide regular updates on national issues. He said that there was no small or big problem that should not get the attention of the embassy staff. Among solutions he suggested having set regular times for Rwandans to visit embassies close-by to meet staff to express their challenges and seek solutions. Others also cited security challenges and threats by anti-government elements operating in some countries across the world. Security concern Marie Grace Umurerwa, a Rwandan living in the Diaspora expressed concern on the security of Rwandans citing that so far a number of Rwandans have succumbed to anti-Rwanda elements with the latest victim being Louis Baziga in Mozambique this year. She said that such threats have been persistent over the years. Olivier Nduhungirehe Minister of State for East African Community called on the Rwandans living in the diaspora to be cohesive and work together which would reduce the threat levels as well as inform national authorities of countries they live of any existing threats. The diaspora community also informed authorities of Rwandans arrested in countries such as Thailand and the Philippines without consular access calling for intervention. With no Rwandan embassies in those countries, they said that citizens arrested in such countries have no access to consular or legal services. Anaclet Kalibata, the Director General of External Security at National Intelligence and Security Service appealed to Rwandans in the diaspora to always inform the government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the event of such cases. That, he said, would allow for follow-up and assessment of possible interventions. While the Rwandan government will always follow-up in the event of such cases, he called on them to be law abiding in their respective countries and avoid involvement in activities that are deemed illegal in various territories. Stalled investment by the diaspora also featured on the agenda of the interaction between the diaspora community and the government. Inzozi Hill Estate, an investment project by members of the Rwandan community living abroad that would have enabled ownership of homes was mentioned among the projects that have since stalled due to lack of accountability among the leadership of the diaspora. Sandrine Uwimbabazi Maziyateke, the Director of Rwanda Community Abroad in the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, said they were aware of the stalled project and were making follow-ups. Other challenges that featured include difficulties in knowledge transfer with some saying that despite expressing interest to share their skills for free with government agencies, there is not much follow-up leading them to give up.
