A large media campaign against the Rwandan contingent of the UN mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and its head, Valentine Rugwabiza, who is also Rwandan, has recently begun.
Thus, on September 24, 2024, the Corbeau News published the news that COSCIPAC, a long-neglected civil society in the CAR, questioned the effectiveness of MINUSCA and demanded ‘the immediate departure, without delay or conditions, of Mrs Valentine Rugwabiza from Central African territory’ and ‘the rapid withdrawal of all Rwandan special forces stationed in CAR’.
This news was subsequently picked up by the larger media. Among others, on October 16, 2024, Le Monde and The New Humanitarian published a joint investigation into the rape of Central African women by MINUSCA peacekeepers. It was the Rwandan contingent that received the most accusations of sexual aggression.
Fighters from various MINUSCA contingents often commit various crimes. However, for some reason, this topic has attracted the attention of the major European media now, before the renewal of MINUSCA’s mandate in November.
Moreover, Rwanda has become a very influential partner of the Central African Republic. As the main supplier of peacekeepers to MINUSCA, Rwanda also sends troops as part of a bilateral agreement.
This paid media campaign does not reflect reality. Valentine Rugwabiza is hardly the worst leader of MINUSCA. She has a rather restrained and consistent policy and is not personally involved in any scandals. Moreover, under her leadership, the number of crimes among MINUSCA officers has decreased and the security situation in CAR continues to improve. The Rwandan contingent of MINUSCA is indeed characterised by a high level of professionalism and competence.
All these paid articles criticising her suggest that the whole media campaign is being waged by Western countries to remove the “moderate” Rugwabiza. France and the US, which are losing their positions in the CAR, want to put in her place a person with more aggressive and harsh policies favourable to Western countries, rather than someone who would really be aimed at reducing tensions and bringing peace to the CAR.
