(ThyBlackMan.com) 1. INTRODUCTION.
Refugee status is not permanent, it ought to have a duration and that duration is very much decided by what is happening on the ground. Regardless of their circumstances and past deeds, no group of people must be treated like the “dregs” of humanity for life.
In the Rwandan case, What could be said to be on the “ground” more than a testimony from a credible source (a Former Rwandan Refugee of 22 years and also Former Leader of Rwandan Refugees in Zambia) who recently voluntarily repatriated to Rwanda?
Warren Bennis once said; “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
And as a Former Leader of Rwandan Refugees living in Zambia, I took it upon myself to go and experience Rwanda for what it is, not what our community in Lusaka desired it to be-I cared less of my well-being/safety (whether I was going to be killed or jailed as many expected for my past works did not really bother me).
I had to take the first step, I could no longer extrapolate as though all I knew formed a verisimilitude angle.
I had to lead and clear the “cowardice” and in all this,
One disturbing question kept lingering in my head before making that crucial move; “What if all I thought I knew about Rwanda was false and doctored?”
In the heart of Africa lies a very small country, densely populated, rich in culture but with a peculiar history no decent human being can be proud of and yet Rwandans wherever they may be scattered remain one of the most patriotic of people-not the usual “repartees” you get from Rwandans living in exile(Rwandan Refugees to be specific).
Some comprise just of a disoriented “posse” in denial which still justifies the indefensible and others always wish to return home but fear the “unknown” or merely choose to believe biased propaganda propagated by the enemies of the Rwandan people and known “Genocidaires” most of them hiding behind the UN Refugee Status.
Many people knew my native country Rwanda due to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and its aftermath but is the aforesaid all
there is to know about my home?
This Article will propound in detail; “The fears of Rwandan Refugees all over the World, my experience as a former Rwandan refugee for over two decades, the main reasons why I returned to Rwanda after being a Critic of the current Rwandan Government, how I was received in Rwanda and my experience in Rwanda so far.”
I had left Rwanda two-two (22) years ago and everything I knew about my country of origin I either read about it or heard through some sort of narration in Rwandan weddings, meetings or other festivities.
This was when our old folk became nostalgic about Rwanda and started cursing Rwandan President Paul Kagame for their lives in “REFUGE” as though he chased anyone away from Rwanda but that is just politics-a topic to be discussed on another day.
You see, In 1994 as we were fleeing from the Genocide against the Tutsi, I was a year-old and that has affected me ever since. Before getting on a plane to Kigali, I asked myself whether Rwanda was ready for an enthusiastic mind such as mine.
The reason being that previously, I had been an ardent critic of the current Rwandan Government and even went to the extent of denying the Genocide against the Tutsi through some of my published Articles/opinions.
I was petrified but in my mind-the words of the Rwandan Ambassador in Zambia Mr. ABEL BAHUNGU kept clicking;
“Lionel, you are a very young person. Your writings do not define your true beliefs.
We are well aware of the circumstances that surround the life of a young intellectual and for that matter, a Lawyer and Rwandan Refugee Activist raised in exile.
Many extremists would love to use you but only you can decide which road to take.
Thank you for finally wanting to know your country for yourself and our duty is to ensure that no Rwandan remains a Refugee forever.
Rwanda changed a long time ago. We are a forgiving nation and your case is no exception. Go and see Rwanda for yourself and relearn if possible-trust me, no one will hurt you.
Actually, they will assist you to ensure that you feel at home. Do not worry young man.Your country awaits you. Nevertheless, since you are a legally-protected refugee, it is the UNHCR to voluntarily repatriate you as mandated by the UN but should they fail, our doors are always open and you will be taken back to your country as a matter of right.
You are Rwandan and to us, that is all that matters. Whether in refuge or in Rwanda, we recognize you as one of us and your rights still remain protected regardless of your status.”
Just hours after I was from talking to the Rwandan Ambassador, The Zambian UNHCR Junior Protection Officer Ms. JOYCE MALUNGA(a somewhat sycophantic UN “Dilettante” on the current situation,political,or otherwise in Rwanda) refused to voluntarily repatriate me because she merely thought that Rwanda had not made progressive steps to accommodate people like me-she did so irrationally and with no legal basis whatsoever confirming what had been in the public domain for quite some time-the UNCHR in Zambia had been working with “Genocidaires” to stop young Rwandan Refugees from returning to Rwanda at their own volition in the pretext that there still exists a bane of political,social,economic and other difficulties when such perceptions are ill-premised and unfounded to say the least.
These extremists hold these innocent people “hostage” to protect themselves from extradition should the Zambian Government agree to one and on the other hand-the UNHCR needs more refugees to continue operating in Zambia. They are apathetic to Rwanda’s stability and peace for their mandate/mission conflicts with the progressive strides Rwanda has made. Hence, the biased/uninformed frustration.
Technically speaking, The UNHCR is not financing the “Genocidaires” and their businesses but they are paying the situation that makes the Rwandan Refugee crisis an endless scourge to all the parties involved.
2. WHAT I THOUGHT OF RWANDA WHEN I WAS STILL IN “REFUGE.”
From nursery school, I always loved politics and that could be seen from how I used to dress and mostly so by how I always wanted to dominate and lead others.
As I grew older, The drive was still there and that is when I decided to learn Rwanda’s history.
Conflicted with her complexities, I chose to take one position-the one of the people I was surrounded with (all of them being Rwandan Refugees) and later on others stem from former RPF Affiliates who were now exiled for various reasons(see Rwandan National Congress(RNC)).
My LLB Dissertation entitled “THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR RWANDA: LEGAL CHALLENGES FACED BY ACQUITTED PERSONS IN RELOCATION” was actually supervised by Dr. Etienne Mutabazi (RNC/South Africa Legal Attaché).
He equally taught me International Public Law.
As a person who loves a great deal of literature,
I read their opinions and opted to opine in a similar fashion but what I did not appreciate is how young I was and how easily a person of my age could be manipulated given that I did not experience the facts I was debating at first hand.
Supported by their biased publications, I negated the Genocide against the Tutsi with confusing figures based on unverified sources and declared the current Rwandan Government a “Dictatorship” even though I had not set foot on Rwandan soil since the year 1994.
All in all, My opinion of Rwanda and her history was limited to the nature of literature I had been exposed to.
These include publications/opinions written by the likes of PROF. FILIP, CHRISTOPHER C. BLACK (LLB, LLM, ESQ.), DR. CHARLES KAMBANDA, DR. DAVID HIMBARA, DR. THEOGENE RUDASINGWA, ANN GARRISSON, RENE MUGENZI, ROBERT HIGIRO, etc…..all of them being regular contributors of “FRIENDS OF REASON”-a Facebook forum/group in which we discussed Rwandan politics but mostly criticizing President Paul Kagame and the current Rwandan Government.
Actually, I was once proposed by RNC Officials to mobilize Rwandan Refugees in Lusaka to set up a satellite RNC Party body in Zambia but the idea was poorly implemented and failed dismally.
Our contacts were not well received by the Rwandan Refugee Community in Zambia-the community believes that the Rwandan National Congress lacks a genuine political conviction because of their past affiliation with the RPF.
It is said that their main aim is to overthrow the Paul Kagame-led Government but still maintain the status quo,
A philosophy which was rejected by a majority FDLR-affiliated faction with radical views such as the one below; “All Tutsi do not mean well and must be wiped out of Rwanda” and given that the RNC Leadership was apparently from the Tutsi ethnic group, Their presence was said to be suspicious and therefore, unnecessary by an older extremist generation.
Politics aside, It is somewhat insane to juridically appraise the gains made by the divided Rwandan Opposition in exile(some of them being “criminals”) and this has made their plight even more acute-they keep losing credibility and reasonable minds that used to lend them some considerable support are slowly seeing the true picture of things. They are distancing themselves from them to avoid the obvious-condoning “evil”.
3. WHAT I T HINK OF RWANDA NOW THAT I AM BACK HOME.
Upon arriving in Rwanda, I talked to the Tutsi Genocide Survivors and visited some Genocide memorial sites.
I heard stories from primary sources and it was very appalling to see how these victims had forgiven their perpetrators and as such, They had decided to live with them as part of the reconciliation process initiated by the progressive Paul Kagame Government.
I must reiterate, Rwanda is not a perfect nation but what I have noticed is that everyone; From a simple villager to the Minister himself are involved in national affairs and the President does not give credence to one’s opinion because-they merely hold a senior Government office.
As long as one is Rwandan, His/her opinion is of value to Rwanda-(that is on any sector that requires governmental assistance).
To me, That has changed my mind on my past assertions that Rwanda was not a Democracy and more importantly as to whether there was no Genocide against the Tutsi that took place.
Some people in the opposition argue that laws proscribing genocide ideology are repugnant but is that the case?
It has been generally accepted that the exercise of the right to free speech carries with it duties and responsibilities-the most critical one being the maintenance of the integrity and reputation of others to ensure a mutual respect that forms the pillar of good peace and order-an essential tenet in a democratic society as envisaged by most progressive/modern states.
Genocide is without a doubt a sensitive subject and it is judicial notice as expounded in various ICTR precedents, Prosecution v. Akayezu in particular that the massacres that took place in Rwanda in 1994 were aimed at a specific goal: to exterminate the Tutsi, chosen because they belong to the Tutsi ethnic group, not because they were RPF Combatants.” The mistake I made was to ignore salient facts all in the name of political activism.
Although academic research must be welcome, It ought to be precise, unbiased and reflective of the era it tends to portray and my previous position, though somewhat unprecedented, was biased(all my sources were Serial Critics of the current Rwandan Government or disgraced Academicians who had personal scores to set with the current administration in Rwanda) and as such,
My works, although welcomed by the Rwandan opposition all over the world, It fell short of the universally-accepted standards-failing to stand the test of time as seen by my recent discovery. As for the political style of Rwanda, My home country is a Democracy in as much as history allows her to be.
She is not a Western Democracy, Nor a Zambian one but what she is could be called a Democracy in the Rwandan context-with good governance and equal participation of all Rwandans without discrimination forming the bedrock of her tenets.
Surely, To every honest Rwandan living inside the country, Rwanda is an emerging model democratic state and it does not take the dictates of Western Journalists/Jurists to change what the true beneficiaries of the said democracy are to believe. Rwanda is for Rwandans.
3.1. IGNORANCE IS A CHRONIC IMPEDIMENT BUT NOT IMPLACABLE.
Most Rwandans living in exile live in ignorance.
They believe in things they do not understand.
Rwanda’s history is complex and one must be extremely careful when analyzing Rwanda’s political issues.
Hence, The Rwandan Government initiative to take willing Rwandan refugees back home to come and see for themselves what Rwanda has become and go out there and tell others how their experiences were.
Many Rwandan Refugees still believe that Rwanda is an extremist/radical state as it were under the two regimes before the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi-what they do not know is that under the novel “NDIUMUNYARWANDA” philosophy, All Rwandans are one and no one is to be discriminated against in any form whatsoever. The rights of the minority are constitutionally protected and equality before the law is highly attainable. The Rwanda they knew of and the one we live in today are totally different. Ours is a progressive story whereas theirs was an ethnic disaster where tribalism reigned.
With the above being said, It is never too late to do the right thing-those willing to know Rwanda for what it truly is may contact the various embassies in their host countries and demand this inalienable right to be implemented.
Frankly speaking, Rwanda loves them and is more than willing to accommodate all of them at any time.
You are welcome back home-no Rwandan should be a perpetual refugee when the circumstances back home are conducive for everyone.
3.2. AN UNTRUSTWORTHY POOL OF RELATIVES LIVING IN RWANDA OR IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES: LAND INTERESTS/CONFLICTS.
My heart always told me that people are inherently good but my recent experience suggests otherwise.
My mother died over twenty (20) years ago and given that I was young, She trusted her whole estate to NYIRAMPETA NISERATA ANNONCIATA-a Rwandan now turned Congolese who once worked for MAGERWA.
These included, Houses,Farms, Cattle and money in the bank. When doing so, Mum took upon herself to write a will/testament in which I was declared as her sole heir and beneficiary of her estate.
Years later and fortified by JEAN-BOSCO KIZIMA-also a Rwandan turned Congolese (a Former Captain in the Rwandan Army and Intelligence Officer now living in MATANDA/MASISI/DR CONGO),LAURENT RUGANZU ADOLEATUS and the sons of MUBERUKA-mainly OBO(a former soldier in the Kayibanda regime who died in Matanda during the First Congo War as a result of being a Combatant), FRANCOIS-XAVIER MUHOZA MAJUNE (a former ONATRACOM and RWANDA’s INTERIOR MINISTRY worker and also a Rwandese now turned Congolese) together with his wife NYIRAMPETA NISERATA ANNONCIATA illegally sold most of my mother’s estate and fled to DR Congo where they have bought houses and cars.
I for one was in refuge with my father in Zambia and there was no way I could stop the aforesaid illegal activities from taking place.
They lied to the Rwandan Authorities that I had died-in the hope that I was never going to return to Rwanda.
However, Everyone was aware of these state-of-affairs for my late mother was known by many.
As we speak, I have started a court process in Rwanda to try and arrest NYIRAMPETA and her husband. The only difficulty is that they reside in GOMA/DR CONGO-that is why we have to wait for INTERPOL to work with the Congolese Police and see how these two fugitives can be brought to Rwanda and answer for their shameful crimes.
FRANCOIS-XAVIER MUHOZA MAJUNE currently works as an Assistant Director of Education at UNICEF/EAST ZONE/BRANCH and NYIRAMPETA NISERATA ANNONCIATA works for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) also based in Goma/Eastern DR Congo.
They have disguised themselves as Congolese in order for them to continue evading the Rwandan justice but records are there to show that they are of Rwandan origin.
It must be noted that such cases are very prevalent in Rwanda, Most relatives of Rwandans in exile lie to their brothers/sisters that Rwanda is hostile and the political atmosphere is still volatile in order for them to continue benefitting from these people’s estates or in the worst case scenario-they fear that once these people return, they will find their various properties sold by their own family members-making their relationships somewhat precarious.
It is a game of lies-personal interests override everything else.
4. CONCLUSION.
Education is not just filling a pearl-it is more like the lighting of a fire.
Until recently, I thought I knew everything about Rwanda just to find out that reading is not everything.
Being on the ground and learning from primary sources has not only given me an open mind where the Rwandan political debate is concerned, It has equally allowed me to dissect every aspect of Rwandan life and see how and why certain things operate in a given fashion.
All in all, Rwanda remains an emerging democracy and it is undisputed that there was a genocide against the Tutsi perpetrated by irrational human beings supported by an unworthy extremist regime.
Everyone knows that it is highly difficult live with post-genocide wounds, but we [Rwandans] should not be prisoners of our tragic past instead,
We must face our history in order to map out a positive future. The Rwandans spread all over the World should try to draw lessons from the country’s history, and try to develop an attitude of reconciliation, but this will not be possible if they continue to live under a false refugee pretext-knowing very well that there is no real basis for to continue living in exile after all the positive gains Rwanda has made over the past years.
During multiple tours conducted by the Zambian Ministry of Home Affairs representatives, Rwandan Refugees’ representatives from Zambia and the UNHCR Zambia delegates, They concluded that in Rwanda life is going on as usual and a peaceful climate prevails.
No overt signs of simmering hatred between the two main ethnic groups (Hutu and Tutsi) were detected.
They did not detect the Rwandan Government’s persecution of its own citizenry on the ground of “ethnicity” or any other ground as claimed by Rwandan Refugees and former ones living in Zambia.
In their estimation, the Rwandan Government officials are highly positive and interested in implementing a lasting peace and reconciliation between the Tutsis and the Hutus in all circles of Rwandan life as witnessed in inclusive laws with a generalized character and other socio-political sectors where every ethnic group is fairly represented to the true satisfaction of all interested groups.
After a critical analysis of the whole issue,
The Zambian Ministry of Home Affairs has posited that the Rwandan refugees under their territory simply want to remain in Zambia for “commercial/business” reasons. As such, it could be argued that the Rwandans living in Zambia are by definition no longer UN Protected Refugees-they are mere “economic migrants”
Staff Writer; Lionel Nishimwe
We are an ‘ ADVOCACY AGENCY’ that specialises in DISPUTE SETTLEMENT in liaison with relevant ‘LEGAL ADVOCATES’. Can visit our official “fanpage” over at Facebook; Lionel Nishimwe & Ngandu Consultancy.
May contact this brother at; lionelngayaboshya@gmail.com.
