Reactions in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, after the President of Rwanda recently visited this volcanic city in northern Kivu for a bilateral meeting with his Congolese counterpart Félix Tshisekedi. During a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Paul Kagame urged Congolese and Rwandans to flip through the past, look ahead and live together. The residents of Goma did not remain indifferent to this announcement.
With our special correspondent in Goma, William Basimike
Rwandan Presidents Paul Kagame and Congolese Félix Tshisekedi met this weekend in Gisenyi then Goma on the Congolese-Rwandan border, where they signed new agreements and a new alliance. The two leaders say they want to turn the page and enter a new era.
At the Signers roundabout in Goma municipality, the Rwandan president’s appeal is estimated differently. Anselme Muhindo is a fuel trader: “We can accept if it comes from the heart. If Rwanda wants this “to live together”, it must no longer repeat the mistakes of the past. The rebels or the Rwandan army must no longer come to invade Congo for this cooperation to exist. But Kagame must also enter into dialogue with the FDLR because they come from Rwanda. ”
A little further on, Michaelle Mahamba, in her thirties, says that she has never felt a life of happiness due to the security disturbances between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. For her, a repair is needed:
“Ah! I think this is hypocrisy because Rwanda and Congo will never be on good terms given the number of victims of the massacres. I do not think so. I think Kagame wants to escape justice. Rwanda is involved and it must take responsibility . ”
Sitting on his motorcycle, Kiza Katembo Henry puts it in perspective: “We Congolese are not bad, we forgive easily and we easily forget. Do you remember when Kagame stated that there have never been massacres in the eastern DRC? We had already forgiven. We’re ready to start over with him. We work with the Rwandans who come to our place to get to work. We also cross the border to go to Rwanda, and we have no problems. ”
But the conclusions from this weekend’s meetings do not suit human rights defender Dismas Kitenge, chairman of the Lotus group, a non-governmental organization affiliated with FIDH.
But other residents see Paul Kagame’s recent statements as a kind of remorse after his latest press release on RFI and France 24. Paul Kagame considered the UN survey report controversial and other reports concluded that there were no crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. . Words that shocked civil society in South Kivu
► Proofreading / review the exclusive interview with President Kagame
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