Kikwete asks for Museveni help on Rwanda conflict
President Kagame and Ugandan counterpart President Museveni lay foundation stone on a facility in Rwanda during one of the later’s many trips (PPU Photo)
Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete has asked Uganda counterpart to mediate in the ongoing spat between him and Presisent Paul Kagame of Rwanda, the Tanzanian Prime Minister announced in Parliament.
PM Mizego Pinda informed Parliament on Thursday that President Museveni would work on bringing the two leaders together; more than three months after relations hit a low end. On May 26, President Kikwete suggested in a closed door African Union summit in Ethiopia that Rwanda negotiates with Rwanda FDLR rebels in DR Congo.
The weeks that have passed saw bitter exchanges between Kigali and Dar es Salaam. In a major speech to the Rwanda Defense Forces, President Kagame said he viewed President Kikwete’s statement with “contempt”. President Kikwete also fired back on a similar platform to Tanzanian troops warning Rwanda not to trying attacking Tanzania.
In the midst of the confrontation, Tanzania found itself sidelined as Rwanda rallied Kenya and Uganda to launch major infrastructure projects including a railway link from Mombasa to Kigali. On Wednesday, a follow up summit in Mombasa put-pen-to-paper confirming the multi-billion dollar railway line and other regional investments.
Media in Tanzania have accused Rwanda of trying to eliminate Tanzania from the East African community. Today in Parliament, Leader of Opposition Freeman Mbowe accused Tanzania Government of being shortsighted.
The Tanzania Prime Minister of Tanzania, who was prepared for the weekly Q&A parliamentary session, delivered a statement. Mr. Freeman Mbowe is the chairman of the main opposition party CHADEMA, who had demanded to know what the government was doing to end the diplomatic conflict between Rwanda and Tanzania. Mr. Mbowe is also the leader of the opposition movement in Tanzania parliamentary house.
Freeman Mbowe had suggested that there should be a special mediation team that would help the two countries reconcile, but the Prime Minister said there was no need of such a move, saying President Kikwete had asked President Museveni of Uganda to act as a mediator.
The opposition legislators in Tanzania challenged the Prime Minister alleging that the shaky relationship between the two neighboring countries might be of negative impact to Tanzania as it could isolate it.
