Rwandan President says Sudan’s Darfur genocide claims need verification

KIGALI, Rwanda, Sep 11, 2004 (PANA) — Rwandan President Paul Kagame Saturday said he was “stunned” by the debate on a so-called genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

“The Americans and the international community in general, have what it takes to find out what is currently going on in the Darfur. Let us wait for the truth to come out instead of
debating,” Kagame told a news conference on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of his presidential term.

He declined to comment on the debate between the authorities of Khartoum and the international community, saying, “As for now, I am not in a position to confirm or deny the existence of a genocide in Darfur”.

Kagame later defended the records of his first year as president, admitting however that much more actions were needed especially in social services, as well as the prevention of genocide and national reconciliation.

Concerning sub-regional policy, he expressed support to the
transition process in Burundi, but said “the solution to the
conflict rests on the Burundese people alone”.

On 25 August 2003, Kagame won the first presidential election of the transition period initiated in July 1994 with a 95.05-percent landslide victory, and was inducted on 12 September 2003.

He previously served as vice-president of the political
transition in Rwanda.