Recent reports of ongoing human rights abuses in Rwanda, where 800,000 people were killed in 1994—the worst genocide in modern history—were the central focus of a congressional hearing Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the Africa and global human rights subcommittee.

The U.S. State Department’s Africa Bureau, its Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Bureau, and other witnesses, including Human Rights Watch, discussed the fact that despite that the Government of Rwanda’s cooperation with international efforts in some areas and solid economic gains, there are serious questions about human rights abuses by the government.

Smith noted at a congressional hearing entitled “Developments in Rwanda” that President Paul Kagame, of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), was once hailed as one of “Africa’s new leaders” by U.S. foreign policy leaders in the 1990s, but now there are credible reports of human rights abuses by government agents inside and outside Rwanda.

“Kagame has been considered a hero on the international stage, and has long been immune to public criticism,” Smith said. “However, human rights reports about abuses in Rwanda have grown over the years. The most recent State Department human rights report about Rwanda accuses the government of ‘targeting of political opponents and human rights advocates for harassment, arrest and abuse.’ Many observers note the constraints on freedom of expression that criminalizes public criticism of the RPF and its policies, as well as outlawing public discussion of ethnic issues.”  Click here to read Chairman Smith’s opening statement.

Steven Feldstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, noted that Rwanda’s economic progress since the 1994 genocide has been accompanied by an equal effort to diminish human rights.

“Alongside Rwanda’s remarkable development progress, there have been equally consistent efforts to reduce space for independent voices and to diminish the ability of the media, opposition groups, and civil society to operate,” Feldstein said. “This space matters. It is essential not only for democratic progress, but for cementing Rwanda’s impressive economic and development gains.”

Feldman noted “there are reports of targeted killings, and an increasing number of reports of disappearances and harassment of civil society groups and opposition parties.” Click here to read Feldstein’s statement

Robert P. Jackson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, said that Rwanda’s record on building democratic institutions and ensuring full respect for human rights is questionable. Restrictions on press freedoms in Rwanda “continue to be a serious concern,” he said.

“In recent years domestic human rights organizations have found it increasingly difficult to monitor and report on human rights violations and abuses. Among international human rights organizations, only Human Rights Watch maintains a permanent presence in Rwanda,” Jackson said. “Its staff report surveillance and occasional harassment by government officials and security services.” Click here to read Jackson’s statement

Also testifying from Democracy in Rwanda Now was David Himbara, former aide to the President of Rwanda who, between 2006 and January 2010, held several positions in the President’s office, including head of strategy, and Chairman of the Rwandan Development Board, which promotes investment, exports, and development.

“By 2009, however, I had decided to leave Rwanda after witnessing a series of abuses, including physical beating of public servants by the President,” Himbara said. He specifically asked that Congress seek to reverse the decision made by the Broadcasting Board of Governors to close down Voice of America’s (VOA) Central Africa Branch by 2017.

“VOA currently broadcasts into Rwanda in the Kinyarwanda language, and therefore is the only truly independent media voice reaching the people of Rwanda, particularly now that the Rwandan government shut down BBC broadcasting services,” Himbara said. “In an environment of press censorship and repression, it would be a huge mistake for the United States to end these broadcasts and deny the Rwandan people their only source of objective news and analysis.” Click here to read Himbara’s statement.

Former Rwandan Maj. Robert Higiro spent two decades in the Rwandan Patriotic Army and served two tours as a peacekeeper with the African Union and United Nations missions in Darfur, Sudan. He said the Director of Military Intelligence offered him $1 million to carry out the assassinations of Rwandans outside the country.

“We discussed the weapon, the modalities of payment and other financial incentives if the assassinations were successful,” said Higaro. “I feared for my life so I fled South Africa for Uganda and then crossed over into Kenya. I am now living as a refugee in Belgium. I am today—like other dissidents—a wanted man in Rwanda and on a hit list abroad.” Click here to read Higiro’s statement

Sarah Margon, Human Rights Watch Washington Director, cautioned that Rwanda is a country of dual realities.

“Visitors are impressed with the façade, the apparent security,” Margon said. “The streets are lean, the traffic lights work, economic growth is strong, and tourism is high. In many ways this is a smokescreen: many Rwandans live in fear, not only because of the legacy of the genocide, but because the current government the only one since the end of the genocide in 1994 runs the country with a tight grip on power. The ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) dominates all aspects of political and public life. It won the last parliamentary elections (2013) with more than 76 percent of the vote, and President Paul Kagame won the last presidential elections (2010) with 93 percent of the vote. The absence of political space means opposition parties cannot operate in a meaningful way. This is not new it has been a constant feature of RPF rule since the end of 1994.” Click here to read Margon’s statement

Also testifying was Willis Shalita, photojournalist and blogger, who at some points seemed to dismiss some human rights issues as allegations, not facts. Click here to read Shalita’s statement.

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Placide KayitareAFRICADEMOCRACY & FREEDOMSHUMAN RIGHTSLATEST NEWSRecent reports of ongoing human rights abuses in Rwanda, where 800,000 people were killed in 1994—the worst genocide in modern history—were the central focus of a congressional hearing Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the Africa and global human rights subcommittee. The U.S. State Department’s Africa Bureau,...PUBLISHING YOUR NEWS WITH CUTTING EDGE STYLE