The year 2013 was certainly an eventful one for Rwanda in the political sphere, with the country registering as many key milestones as lows on the domestic, diplomatic, regional, continental and international front.

But there is no doubt that Rwanda’s key moments were largely defined and shaped by the events in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as regional dynamics in relation to the Congo problem and the East African Community (EAC).

Unlike the previous year, 2013 ended in a more relaxed fashion for the country, which at the same time in 2012 was battling consistent allegations by United Nations Group of Experts (GoE) on the support it was allegedly extending to the M23 rebels, then operating in eastern DRC.

Rwanda continued to vehemently deny the allegations which in 2012 had led to several donors and development partners turning off the aid taps, exerting pressure on the country’s development plans.

The country’s day in the sun however came on January 1, 2013 when it began its two-year tenure as a member of the United Nations Security Council, which it used to punch holes in the reports by GoE and Human Rights Watch (HRW) and largely to do some damage control.

READ: Rwanda in the spotlight as it takes up seat at UN Security Council

In February, Rwanda was among the regional countries that signed a framework to restore peace in eastern DRC presented by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Addis Ababa. Despite its earlier failings, the peace agreement was nonetheless signed on February 24.

The framework was endorsed by regional countries under the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Southern African Development Co-operation (SADC). Kigali’s committed involvement also helped to ease the pressure.

Aid money started trickling in steadily again, but just as the smoke was settling, in March, some 718 M23 fighters, led by Bishop Jean Marie Runiga, Col Baudouin Ngaruye and several other top commanders, entered Rwanda as they fled fighting between two factions in the rebel movement.

And just about the same time, on March 18, it was reported that Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda, who was wanted by the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court (ICC), had handed in himself at the US Embassy in Kigali.

Even the government seemed to be oblivious of Gen Ntaganda’s surprise move, with Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo tweeting that the government “came to learn” of Gen Ntaganda’s presence after his surrender.
The two events again threw Rwanda into the limelight, rekindling claims of its strong links to the M23. But it was soon to ease as Kigali allowed a quick passage by ICC to transfer Gen Ntaganda to The Hague, where he would answer charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Find peace in eastern DRC

In the meantime, Rwanda continued playing its role in regional efforts to find peace in eastern DRC as it marked a year since April when the rebel movement that wreaked havoc on Congo was formed.

April was marked by events to commemorate 19 years after the 1994 genocide, which was followed by a quiet spell until May.

The early days of May were mainly characterised by a lull, both domestically and regionally, but towards the end, two key events rattled the scene.

The dropping of the Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama and Minister of Cabinet Affairs Protais Musoni sent tongues wagging, with some alleging that the two were sacked due to their views on the “third term” debate. The two men were some of the few remaining Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) “historicals” in government.

READ: Kagame drops last two RPF ‘historicals’

Just around the same time, reports emerged that Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete had, in a closed meeting in Addis Ababa, advised his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame and his government to hold talks with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The proposal irked Kigali, leading to the two countries exchanging strong statements that almost scattered efforts to restore peace in DRC which both countries were part of.

The diplomatic spat strained relations between Kigali and Dar es Salaam, with Rwanda stating that it was uncalled for and irresponsible for President Kikwete to suggest that Rwanda talks to the militia group whose remnants are responsible for carrying out the 1994 genocide.

READ: Analysis: Powers behind Rwanda-Tanzania ailing relations

Relations were to sour further in June and July as Tanzania announced that it would send thousands of Rwandan immigrants packing. President Kikwete gave the ultimatum at the end of June while visiting the Kagera region.

Rwandans kicked out

Consequently, about 20,000 Rwandans were kicked out, leading to a huge influx of returnees.

Kigali was not amused. Relations between the two countries took a further dip.

There were fears that the growing diplomatic enmity between the two countries would play out in DRC where the UN Intervention Brigade was set to begin work in July. Tanzanian troops partly formed the brigade, whose mandate was to uproot the negative groups operating in the Congo.

Tensions simmered further through July and August as fighting escalated inside DRC. Kigali had on several occasions accused the Congolese government forces, with the support of UN, of firing rockets across the common border.

Kigali responded by deploying heavily on its borders. Huge army movements were seen inside Rwanda, triggering fears that the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) would re-enter the Congo and set off another regional war.
However, calm prevailed at the beginning of September following face-to-face talks between President Kagame and President Kikwete in Kampala, brokered by their Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni, for the first time in months.

READ: All eyes on Dar, Kigali ahead of meeting

Took a back seat

But weeks later, several meetings to discuss regional projects between Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya in the three countries irked Dar yet again, triggering fears that relations between Rwandan and Tanzania could get even worse.

October and November saw Rwanda take a back seat, leaving Uganda, Tanzania and SADC countries to sort out matters in eastern DRC. The rebels were eventually defeated in early November.

Kigali stayed calm and collected through the events as the M23 scampered across the border to Uganda and some 75 wounded ones to Rwanda, under fire from government forcers backed by a stronger UN intervention brigade.

The talks in Kampala took a tumble.

Rwanda would maintain its “unnoticed presence,” ensuring that the year ended on a positive note as it announced plans to send forces to the Central African Republic (CAR) to quell the alarming situation there.