President Kagame on Wednesday at Urugwiro Village received the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Olusegun Obasanjo. In discussions with President Kagame, the special envoy expressed appreciation of the support received in the last year since the Summit of the Great Lakes Region on DRC that took place in Nairobi last November, saying that the situation in the region had changed substantially for the better and that the most difficult work had been completed.
President Kagame thanked Mr Obasanjo and his work as special envoy in the region carried out in conjunction with the AU Special Envoy Benjamin Mkapa, saying that they have been the right people for the task. The newly restored relationship between Rwanda and the DRC was highlighted, particularly economic cooperation which is set to benefit the citizens of the two countries.
President Kagame pointed out that the lingering problems in Eastern DRC were not insurmountable, as these were symptoms of underlying problems, and that past experience showed that dealing with the root causes would lead to real solutions. President Kagame also underscored the importance of good governance and building national institutions in achieving long-term stability and prosperity.
Speaking to the press following the meeting, Mr Obasanjo said that the joint operation by the Congolese army and MONUC in South Kivu was making advancements in rooting out the FDLR, and on the political side, European and other countries had been made to understand the danger of continuing to provide safe haven to leaders of the FDLR who he anticipated would soon be apprehended.