African intelligence service meet in Rwanda
November 5, 2007 (KIGALI, Rwanda) — Senior intelligence and security detectives from 46 African countries begin a five-day workshop in Kigali today to devise appropriate mechanisms the continent should embrace to fight genocide ideology.
The workshop has attracted delegates from member countries of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA), a forum established in 2004 to help address the continent’s security concerns.
The workshop, at Prime Holdings in Kimihurura, is being held behind closed doors, except for the opening ceremony and some selected presentations. “It will be the second CISSA core business workshop after the one held in Namibia in 2006,” a top Rwandan intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. According to the source, the workshop comes after Rwanda developed a concept paper highlighting indicators of Genocide ideology and suggesting preventive measures. Rwandan participants will seek to expound on that document.
“Genocide ideology was identified by CISSA members as one of the security threats on the continent, and thus, Rwanda – which suffered one of the worst genocides in human history in 1994 – was asked to assist in making others understand symptoms of a looming genocide and how it should be prevented,” the source told Rwandan The New Times.
He added: “This technical workshop is therefore aimed at enriching the concept paper and for the members to own it.”
Resolutions from the workshop will thereafter be forwarded to a CISSA conference meeting due next June in South Africa. The intelligence and security chiefs will then make recommendations to the AU, which according to sources, would later be adopted for implementation by the African Union Peace and Security Council. Main presenters will include Presidential Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, Ambassador Dr Richard Sezibera who will discuss the implications of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide on regional security; President of Institute of Peace and Research, Prof. Pierre Rwanyindo, who will present a paper titled ‘Retrospective of Rwanda Genocide’ exploring how it all unfolded.
Justice minister Tharcisse Karugarama will also present a paper on the ramifications of the Genocide. The spy officials will also discuss security implications of a proposed AU government although sources said they would not take a stand on whether to support or discourage an AU government.
Analysts say hosting the high-level intelligence technical workshop, is an opportunity for Rwanda to demonstrate the far-reaching consequences of the 1994 Genocide and how far the country has gone in the recovery process. Delegates are expected to visit Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, where remains of an estimated 250,000 Genocide victims are buried. “Such experience will help understand the magnitude of Genocide, and why we all need to put together our efforts to prevent it from happening anywhere else again,” an official said.
“Many times, people don’t understand when you talk about Genocide. For us who have lived it, our duty is to help others be able to detect signs of genocide in their own societies so that they can be able to act beforehand. There should be early warning mechanisms,” another security source said. Asked whether members from different countries share information with honest considering that intelligence reports are normally highly secretive, the official said: “CISSA members agreed to act professionally.
We agreed to share all the intelligence reports without political considerations. We don’t take political decisions but only brief and advise politicians on security situations.”
The workshop is also expected to provoke participants to re-focus their attention to areas such as Darfur in Sudan, where at least 200,000 blacks have been killed by suspected Janjaweed militias, Arab warriors who are pro-government. The US and some humanitarian agencies have described the Darfur crisis as Genocide. Rwanda maintains over 2,000 solders in Darfur where a 26,000-strong hybrid UN-AU mission is due to deploy in January.
Pundits say that the workshop could also trigger action by African governments against Rwandan Genocide fugitives who are hiding in their countries. “It is likely to serve as an eye-opener to many, which could result into concrete action against genocidaires who are at large,” a Kigali-based analyst said.
Rwandan officials say African countries have not responded to Kigali’s repeated calls to apprehend Genocide fugitives with the kind of vigor that some Western countries have shown in the recent past.
Scores of Genocide architects are believed to be staying in several African countries, with the most sought-after fugitive being suspected Genocide financier Felicien Kabuga, who is believed to be hiding in Kenya.
(The New Times)