EngInternational
Rwanda in CAR an equal partner not exploitive
Good
relations between Rwanda and the Central Africa Republic (CAR) have flourished
since 2014, when Rwandan troops were sent to CAR to serve under the United
Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central
African Republic (MINUSCA). Since then, the two countries have been
strengthening ties.
Despite
Kigali’s and Bangui's good intentions, and friendship, ill-intentioned Western critics
have other plans.
On
July 7, the International Crisis Group (ICG), published a report, titled:
“Rwanda’s Growing Role in the Central African Republic”. The so-called
researchers alleged that Rwanda’s influence in CAR is growing, portraying the
former’s contribution to the latter as ‘exploitive’.
“The
dual nature of the Rwandan presence in CAR – providing security while seeking
profit – could cause problems… Kigali has signed economic agreements with
Bangui, taking advantage of the latter’s propensity since colonial times for
letting foreign powers exploit the country’s natural resources” read parts of
the report.
But
what the Western think tank’s report deliberately missed to highlight is that
the Kigali-Bangui situation is that of equal partnership, not that of a
one-sided exploitive nature as they so badly want to paint it.
Rwanda’s
commitment in CAR began with the deployment of 850 soldiers as part of MINUSCA,
and it has continued to grow. Today, Rwanda is the top contributor of
peacekeepers to the UN mission, with more than 2,000 soldiers and police
officers. Additionally, under a bilateral agreement, in 2020, Kigali dispatched
hundreds of soldiers to CAR to quell election violence and protect
peacekeepers.
When
Rwanda got CAR’s request to help stop the rebel advance, it reacted fast.
Within 48 hours, Rwanda sent well-trained troops to Bangui. Within a month, the
country’s security forces backed by Rwanda and Russia not only beat the rebel
blockade of the capital to enable the flow of aid in but also ultimately
captured the rebel strongholds.
Several
reports in CAR testify that Rwandan soldiers have a good reputation of
professionalism, efficiency, and dedication to their security tasks. Bangui
residents are grateful for Rwandan forces’ assistance in defeating the CPC
rebels, and opening the Bangui-Beloko road, that connects Bangui to Cameroon.
In
August 2021, CAR President, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, made a state visit to Rwanda,
and during that time the two countries signed four bilateral agreements in
economic planning, mining, security sector reforms; and cooperation in
transport.
For
decades, the CAR has struggled with a security crisis making it hard to find
foreign investors. Under the economic agreements, Rwandan investors established
their firms in CAR, where they produce much needed consumer goods such as
mineral water, juice, and yoghurt.
In
2021, a Rwandan chick producing firm exported about 600,000 chicks, and about
100,000 hatching (fertilised) eggs to CAR, which are hatched by customers
themselves once there. This is good business for both countries.
Beyond
ties in security and business, the transport agreement saw, RwandaAir, the Rwandan
national carrier, begin two weekly flights to Bangui. This facilitated the
movement of investors and products. It is reported that Rwandan investors are
now involved in the production and agriculture sectors; several run hotels,
shops and other businesses in CAR.
It
is undeniable that CAR reaps profits from the partnership with Rwanda,
especially when Rwandan private investors are helping the country build its
economy by offering services, products and permanent jobs to Central Africans.
CAR is a country ready for foreign investment, as that has been the country’s
wish for decades.
Rwanda
is helping to strengthen CAR’s state institutions through structural reforms.
Through a Rwandan agency, for example, the CAR’s government adopted a
data-driven human resource management system, allowing the country’s civil
service to keep better track of their personnel, remove phantom staff from the
payroll and fix other irregularities. This effectively reduced embezzlement of
public funds and helped the government save up to $1 million, annually.
African
solutions to African problems has been a working objective for both countries.
And
their partnership is proving to be effective.
Clearly,
Rwanda and CAR maintain strong bilateral and multilateral cooperation,
particularly on matters of security, with Rwandan forces playing a pivotal role
in pacifying the central African nation.
But Western
powers – as evidenced by reports concocted by their spinners, including the
likes of ICG, are not happy.
Kigali
and Bangui should be wary of Western agent provocateurs such as the ICG. But
the two countries should not be deterred.
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