Minister Bizimana criticizes the activities of UN experts on DR Congo

Jean-Damascène Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, has criticized the UN Group of Experts on DR Congo’s selection and activities, pointing to bias against Rwanda and partiality in their reports.

Speaking at a meeting where MPs, government representatives, representatives of political parties, and members of civil society convened to consider the state of the genocidal ideology in the area and countermeasures, Bizimana made the comments on Wednesday, March 5.

According to Bizimana, the African Union, European Union, and UN Security Council have all issued rulings since 2008 denouncing the FDLR genocidal militia for its abuses of human rights and calling for its disarmament.

However, he pointed out that the genocidal group has continued to flourish in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a result of such actions.

Bizimana questioned the veracity of such a claim, even if the UN specialists are chosen based on their knowledge of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

He used three experts as an example, claiming they were biased. Among them is Chilean Roberto Garreton, who served as the head of the UN specialists from 1994 to 2001.

Bizimana said that Garreton shown favoritism in the reports he generated.

He continued by saying that Chile had an idea that the Tutsi formed an alliance to conquer the Great Lakes Region and rule over all of the current racial groups there.

“In his numerous publications, he stated that during Kofi Annan’s tenure as UN Secretary-General, he asked that the reports of Roberto Garreton be sent to Rwanda for their opinions before the UN Security Council considered them,” he claimed.

Although Kofi Annan’s process was sound, the UN Security Council does not currently use it. He stated, “They write what they want and use that as a basis for decisions.”

According to the minister, some of the experts have a stake in the mineral-rich areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Bizimana added that American Steve Hege, who presided over the UN Group of Experts from 2010 to 2013, is another expert.

Bizimana informed lawmakers that Hege had formed a corporation for mineral extraction and trade inspection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with another American, Jason Stearns.

According to him, “they founded that business while they were still UN experts, and they claimed that they would put it into operation after finishing their expert work.”

He questioned how they could be objective about matters involving Rwanda while looking to do business in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Bizimana also discussed another UN specialist, Bernard Leloup, who was a student and lecturer at the Universite d’Anvers in Belgium.

“There are a lot of people at the university that are really against us. He added that he helped create the 1978 Rwandan constitution and that it includes a department headed by Filip Reyntjens, a former counselor to former President Habyarimana.

In reference to Reyntjens, Bizimana stated, “He is the one who despises Rwanda.” He also mentioned that Reyntjens’ pupil, Bernard Leloup, assisted him in joining the experts.

Bizimana stated, “Bernard Leloup publicly hates President Kagame,” implying that he expresses this sentiment in his writings.

He said that in 2012, Leloup was appointed a UN expert on DR Congo.

He questioned the UN’s due diligence in choosing such an expert, asking, “How will that person not be partial when he even produces writings saying I hate the President of Rwanda?”

Bizimana’s remarks coincide with sanctions being placed on Rwanda by certain Western nations due to the country’s suspected support for M23, a rebel organization fighting the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Citing security concerns regarding the Congolese government’s cooperation with the FDLR, a UN-sanctioned militia connected to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda refutes the accusations.

According to the M23, it defends the rights of Congolese who speak Kinyarwanda, notably the Tutsi, who have endured decades of persecution.

Bizimana claimed that the international world does nothing to stop attacks against Rwanda and killings of Congolese Tutsis, despite statements made by Congolese government officials openly calling for such actions.