Chairman Smith on the hearing: “Rwanda has been a valuable contributor to peacekeeping in Africa and is the sixth largest troop and police contributor to United Nations missions.  However, questions have increased about the status of human rights and rule of law inside Rwanda and its efforts to silence critics living abroad.  This hearing will examine the future of democracy and rule of law in Rwanda in light of persistent criticism of its government’s behavior at home and on the international stage.”

Witnesses

Panel I

The Honorable Donald Yamamoto
Acting Assistant Secretary
Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State
[full text of statement]

Panel II

Mr. David Himbara
Coordinator for Canada
Democracy in Rwanda Now
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Major Robert Higiro, Rwanda Defense Force, Retired
Coordinator for the United States
Democracy in Rwanda Now
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Mr. Mike Jobbins
Manager
Africa Programs
Search for Common Ground
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Mr. Adotei Akwei
Managing Director
Government Relations
Amnesty International United States
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

____________________________

Hearing transcript (PDF)