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Rwanda, South Africa missions to resume operations

Saturday April 30 2016

Rwanda and South Africa are finally working on resuming full operations at their respective missions but there are few signs of progress, as Kigali remains reluctant to send diplomats to Pretoria.

Last July, the two countries agreed in principle to resume crucial diplomatic ties which they severed in March 2014, with both Kigali and Pretoria agreeing to re-appoint diplomats to their respective missions.

But almost a year after Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister and International Co-operation Louise Mushikiwabo and her South African counterpart Maite Nkoana-Mashabane met and agreed to restore ties, little has been done to that effect.

It is understood however that South Africa has already reappointed diplomats to its High Commission in Kigali but Rwanda is yet to reciprocate.

The South African High Commissioner to Kigali George Nkosinati Twala confirmed to The EastAfrican that his country has already named appointments to the embassy, except for the consular officer-in charge of issuing visas.

Rwanda and South Africa “limited” their diplomatic ties in March 2014 after Pretoria expelled three Rwandan diplomats following an incident involving Rwandan exile Kayumba Nyamwasa with Pretoria then accusing Rwanda of disregarding the sovereignty of South Africa. Kigali retaliated by expelling six South African diplomats. Both countries however still had ambassadors from either country.

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READ: Rwanda row with South Africa over envoys deepens

According to Mr Twala, “in July last year, the two countries agreed in principle to exchange diplomats and that activities would resume at the missions. South Africa has already sent appointees in different positions except for the consular chargé.”

“To a greater extent, operations at the mission are back to normal,” Mr Twala said, adding that Rwanda is yet to name new appointees to its mission.

Prior to the expulsion of diplomats by both countries, South Africa was one of Rwanda’s biggest trading partners and a common destination for Rwandan students and businesses but with no functional consular services, trade and travel between the two nations dwindled.

Efforts to reach Ms Mushikiwabo were futile by press time but sources indicate that Rwanda has been reluctant to fasttrack efforts to restore bilateral ties before certain concerns are addressed, much to the frustration of Pretoria.

Even as the longstanding diplomatic freeze continues, the two countries insist that relations between them are “cordial.”

Last July Ms Mushikiwabo and Mashabane met in Addis Ababa and agreed to end the diplomatic stalemate but did not address the technical and security issues that existed between the two countries.

READ: Jo’burg, Kigali mend diplomatic fences

South Africa is yet to release a report on the murder of Rwanda’s former head of external intelligence Patrick Karegeya — who was living in exile in South Africa — on New Year’s eve of 2013. The findings remain a delicate matter.

Rwanda maintains that Pretoria should stop giving protection to dissidents, specifically Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa and other members of the Rwanda National Congress whom it accuses of engaging in subversive activities.

READ: South Africa convicts four of plot to kill Rwandan ex-general

According to sources, South Africa has cautioned the Rwandan opposition members and asylum seekers to stop “engaging in politics” on its soil. Reports further indicate that Gen Nyamwasa could be relocated to a “third party” country.

Appearing on the KFM talkshow Rwanda Today on March 18, 2016, Rwanda’s ambassador to South Africa Vincent Karega said that Rwanda was also in the process of sending diplomats to its Pretoria mission.

“It is a process. There are few things still being discussed in the co-operation agreement, in diplomacy, you don’t hurry processes. However we believe these will be resolved and Rwanda will also soon appoint diplomats to its mission,” Mr Karega said.

The Rwandan envoy confirmed that the existence of the dissidents on South African soil remains a point of contention.

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