Kagame’s Rwanda does not take criticism well. Even when it is constructive. It is used to fighting or bullying its way to where it wants to get. However, as the host of the next Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting, it may be in poor taste to disregard the recommendations of the founding member of an organization Rwanda has only integrated since 2009. 

Dismissing the United Kingdoms’ recommendations arguing bias is a little overripe! How do you join an organization and expect it to change its core values to fit your autocratic police state?

Claiming Pan Africanism to excuse dictatorship, abuse, and persecution of fellow Africans is an insult to the great men who fought for Africa and African independence.

If we are going to embrace Pan-Africanism, we must embrace all its principles. 

How do we ask the old colonial masters to treat us as equals when we cannot extend the same courtesy to our own? How can we realistically expect fairness from foreigners when we proudly disregard the most basic human rights to our own brothers and sisters?

Our learned compatriot and Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye, ought to know that no amount of diplomatic jargon and play-acting indignation can wash away the disappearing, torture, and murdering of innocent Rwandans. If he had had the decency to be embarrassed by our appalling human rights record, he would have realized how dense and unhelpful his four-page response is to these three simple universally fair recommendations:

“1. Conduct transparent, credible and independent investigations into allegations of extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances and torture, and bring perpetrators to justice.

2.Protect and enable journalists to work freely, without fear of retribution, and ensure that state authorities comply with the Access to Information law.

3.Screen, identify, and provide support to trafficking victims, including those held in Government transit centers.”

The United Kingdom only echoed the shame members of the Commonwealth must feel at the thought of being hosted by a country that sells itself as the “African miracle” while unrepentantly disappearing and killing its citizens within its borders and abroad!

Rwanda’s state-endorsed brutality will be a discomfiture for the heads of government who will be in attendance of CHOGM 2021; instead of denying and ganging up on the messenger, we should be looking at a way to implement at least one of the recommendations conveyed by Mr. Julian Braithwaite by June 2021. 

 Noble Marara