09 09 13 East Afrcan (ke) – Kagame-Kikwete handshake begs FDLR question

The
7th summit last week, coming just a month after the 6th, drew yawns. What would
it do differently from those that preceded it?

Not
much, it seems. Its final communique, like those before it, went about strongly
condemning this, directing and ordering that, expressing and requesting the
other without showing how it would actually force through its drafters’
wishes.

The
summit’s saving grace was the sidelines meeting between Tanzania’s President
Jakaya Kikwete and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.

For
three months now, leaders from the two countries have exchanged hot words and
put both their citizens and those in neighbouring countries on
edge.

An
hour-long discussion, good as it is, is but a beginning. No side has elaborated
any points of action, which is unfortunate. Mistrust that fuels the sort of bad
blood that has been witnessed between the two countries thrives on
secrecy.

As
such, both countries must reveal what they agreed to do to repair their
relations.

But
more importantly, perhaps, there should be an honest conversation not just
between Dodoma and Kigali but the region as well about the source of the falling
out — the Congo-based Democratic Forces for the Liberation of
Rwanda.

Honest
and tough questions must be asked, and answered, about its history, ideology,
sources of support and affiliations, past, present and future
plans.