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Reconciliation in the Great Lakes Region of Africa

Remarks by the Hon. David Kilgour, P.C., M.P.

Secretary of State, Latin America and Africa & MP for Edmonton Southeast

At the Consultation on Central Africa hosted by:

Centre Africain de Recherches et d’Education sur la Paix et la Démocratie

Camp Iawah, near Perth, Ontario

31 October, 2001 

 

*Check against delivery

Thank you,  Charles Foster, for inviting me to join you this evening.  In examining the often ignored questions of reconciliation and ethics in politics, I’m certain your three days of consultations have been very useful.   

Gatherings like this one provide an opportunity to look beyond the traditional scope of politics and to focus on principles that bind us together as a single human race: all human life has equal value; the right to live with dignity; the freedom to realise one’s own salvation spiritually. Underpinning those precepts, of course, lie eternal ones of love, generosity, honesty, loyalty and  truth. 

As Dr. Foster suggested in his paper, “Towards Humanizing Social Change,” we cannot afford to abandon transcendent principles – ones that are shared by all of the world’s monotheist religions.  They are consistently espoused as well in the political arena. They should play a key role in reducing further human suffering in the Great Lakes region of Africa.

Canadian Policy in the Great Lakes Region

I’ve been asked to discuss Canada’s foreign policy approach to the Great Lakes region.  Simply put, the government believes that the conflict in this region must be resolved; its continuation will have a disastrous impact on the whole continent.

As we all know, the region has been marked by immeasurable tragedies, ones that resonate today especially in Burundi (where just yesterday the 26 members of the new Tutsi-Hutu transitional government set to start tomorrow were announced) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  Seven years ago, a horrendous genocide occurred in Rwanda, which still reverberates on the collective conscience of the world.  It took the lives of more than 800,000 persons of all ages.  Rwandans believe that the international community failed them during April to June, 1994.  It is our duty as citizens of the world to ensure that a similar event does not happen again in any part of the world, ever. 

I might add here a personal comment.  Former Archbishop Desmond Tutu evidently visited Kigali not too long after the events of April - June, 1994.  In speaking to a large audience at an outdoor stadium shortly after he arrived, the great man called for forgiveness.  Thereafter, he visited some of the sites of the killings - many of which were churches.  According to one of the Rwandan survivors I spoke to, Tutu was so appalled at what he observed that he changed his view: justice for a least some of the perpetrators, and then forgiveness.  In his recent book, No Future Without Forgiveness, Tutu deals with the past and does not forget, but allows individuals and communities to achieve reconciliation. 

Canada condemned the genocide and has worked with the United Nations and other countries to see justice done.  Much has been achieved, but more remains to be done to ensure that the world sees that those guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity do not go unpunished.  At the same time as they pursue justice, Rwanda and its people continue their healing process.  Canadians support Rwandans in their effort to rebuild their beautiful country.

 Canada was among the first donor countries to resume their involvement in Rwanda after the genocide.  Since 1994, we have contributed approximately $150 million in bilateral and multilateral assistance to that country.  Seven years after the genocide, and with the reconstruction well under way, Canada’s aid to Rwanda still amounts to about $8.5 million a year. 

La République démocratique du Congo

Le Canada ne peut fermer les yeux sur le fait que le Rwanda est fortement impliqué dans la guerre civile qui s’évit depuis trois ans dans la République démocratique du Congo.  Nous appuyons l’Accord de Lusaka et continuons à demander le retrait immédiat de toutes les forces étrangères du pays, à savoir, l’Ouganda, le Rwanda, le Zimbabwe, l’Angola, la Namibie et le Burundi.  Tout en comprenant les impératifs de sécurité du Rwanda, nous sommes aussi très préoccupés par la situation critique de la population congolaise.  À ce titre, nous encourageons tous les signataires de Lusaka de respecter leurs engagements, de mettre un terme au conflit et de respecter les droits de la personne des populations dans les territoires sous leur contrôle. 

Nous ne pouvons passer sous silence la catastrophe humanitaire qui se déroule au Congo.  Nous sommes attérés, non seulement par le nombre dramatique des victimes civiles, mais également par les violations systématiques des droits de la personne commises par toutes les parties au conflit, et par le pillage illégal des ressources naturelles. 

Dans l’espoir de participer aux efforts de la communauté internationale visant à mettre fin à la guerre et aux abus qui en découlent, les ministres canadiens des affaires étrangères et de la coopération internationale ont nommé un envoyé spécial, M. Marc Perron, qui a dirigé, entre février et avril derniers, une mission de consultations sur le conflit en RDC.

Son rapport est actuellement à l’étude à Ottawa.

Canada also contributes to the UN Observer Mission in the DRC (MONUC) with six observers from the Canadian Forces.  We have provided financial support to the Joint Military Commission, as well as to the work of the Facilitator to the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, Sir Ketumile Masire, and to the National Commission on demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers.  In regard to the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, as you know, it recently stumbled slightly in Addis Ababa.  Allow me to assure you that we will continue to support this dialogue as it continues to develop.  Congo will remain among the main beneficiaries of Canadian assistance to Africa.  The government will continue as well to support the efforts to bring peace in the DRC and the entire region.

C’est ainsi que nous sommes extrêmement préoccupés par les retombées de la guerre civile congolaise au Rwanda et au Burundi.  Dans ce dernier contexte, nous saluons l’accord survenu entre les signataires d’Arusha quant à la formation de gouvernement de transition.  Cet accord fut le résultat d’efforts incessants de la part du Facilitateur au processus de paix, Nelson Mandela, auquel nous devons également la signature en août 2000 de l’Accord d’Arusha pour la paix et la réconciliation.  Le processus de négociation fut long et difficile, les négociations, ardues et il faut s’attendre à ce que la mise en oeuvre soit confrontée à certains obstacles.  Jusqu’à tout récemment, nous avons été le plus important bailleur de fonds au processus d’Arusha au niveau bilatéral et nous en sommes fiers. 

However, there is still no peace in Burundi as there is still no cease-fire between the belligerents.  Every additional day that passes without a cease-fire agreement means that more innocent lives are lost in a war that has already claimed over 200,000 victims.  This war must stop.  A comprehensive cease-fire is desperately needed.  

G8 Summit on Africa

Canada’s overall policy in Africa aims at improving the lives of the people most in need.  The potential of the continent, embodied in part by the Great Lakes region, is plain to see.  Realising this potential will be shaped in part by how the G8 responds to the New African Initiative (NAI).  The document, signed by 53 African countries at the OAU Heads of State meeting in Lusaka earlier this summer, has shown the lengths to which Africans will now go to integrate themselves into the world economy, including promoting democracy and the rule of law, building transparency and good governance, encouraging agriculture, women’s empowerment, human resource development, access to markets and so on You can access it on the internet at http://www.afbis.com/analysis/new_african_initiative.htm.

The Initiative, the product of the amalgamation of the Millennium Action Plan for Africa and the OMEGA Plan for Africa, has been born out the principles of the African Renaissance defined by South African President Thabo Mbeki.  This renaissance at its core called on the world’s donor countries to help Africa and Africans help themselves. 

Canada has taken a lead in responding to the NAI, and the renaissance it embodies.  Prime Minister Chretien and his fellow leaders vowed at the last G8 Summit in Genoa to develop an Action Plan for Africa in response to the NAI.  Canada has taken the lead on this action plan and our Prime Minister has appointed Robert Fowler as his Special Representative for the G8 and for Africa.  Two weeks ago, Fowler was in Washington, beginning what will be a long list of consultations in the lead up to next year’s G8 in Alberta. 

Here in Canada, a national consultative process will soon begin -  with some of you hopefully taking part -  where interested Canadians will be asked to contribute their own thoughts to the development of the Action Plan.  Africa will be at the centre of the G8 discussions; the Great Lakes should  certainly assume a predominant place.

To conclude, I return to the where this talk began – transcendent values and the spiritual dimension of political affairs -  for the solutions to the crisis in the Great Lakes lies in what are in essence spiritual concepts:  peace,  compassion, co-existence and reconciliation.   Let me leave you with some words from those of a much-admired African leader – President Olesgun Obasanjo of Nigeria – who lives each day with the life and death challenges involved in reconciling faith, politics, and spirituality:

“True believers, be they Muslims or Christians, know all humans are created by God and ought not be harmed, but loved.”

 

 
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