www.rwandan-flyer.com

01/08/2013

InnerpressCity and Nanojv announce that Italian drones (Selex ES)  will be deployed in September 2013

More infos : HERE (French)

22/01/2013

Rwandan President Paul Kagame says he has no problem with a United Nations plan to use surveillance drones in neighboring Congo.

Kagame told a news conference Monday that if the U.N. thinks the drones will help achieve peace, then “let them do it.” He added that he doesn’t think Rwanda has the power to stop such a U.N. deployment.

(Source) Full article : HERE

Rwanda refuses the use of Drones in the DR Congo conflict

 09/01/2013

According to Reuters, Rwanda refused yesterday the use of Drones, in the DR Congo conflict. UN planned to deploy three Drones, for monitoring the troops movements in the Kivu Region.

Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s deputy U.N. ambassador told to Reuters : “It is not wise to use a device on which we don’t have enough information.” “Africa shall not become a laboratory for intelligence devices from overseas.”

He also said Rwanda had no problem with helicopters, night-vision equipment or other high-tech gadgetry for the U.N. peacekeeping force. Other diplomats, including some from Europe, have also expressed reservations.

Russia and China are among the nations on the council that have concerns about the deployment of drones in eastern Congo, diplomats told journalists.

Since 01 January 2013, Rwanda is a member of the UN Security Council, for a period of two years. Diplomats that support the deployment of drones say Rwanda’s opposition is the first manifestation of the difficulties they expect to face over Congo.

Indeed, an UN report accuses both Rwanda and Uganda to help the M23 rebels, by sending troops or providing weapons.

United Nations begins talks with Rwanda to use Drones in DR Congo conflict 

24/11/2012

According the Agence France Presse, United Nations has began talks with the governement of Rwanda, to use Drones for monitoring the movements of armed groups, including the M23.

The UN “is considering a range of ways to strengthen the capabilities of MONUSCO to protect civilians from the threat of armed groups in the vast area of eastern DR Congo”, UN peacekeeping spokesman Kieran Dwyer told AFP on Friday.  

The Rwandan counselor to the U.N. mission Olivier Nduhungirehe has said : “This is controversial, not all countries agree with this”.  

The UN has said, that Drones will be only used for the surveillance, however some regionals countries such as Rwanda or Uganda are worried. Indeed, an UN report published this week, accuses both Rwanda and Uganda to help the M23 rebels, by sending troops or providing weapons.

 About the conflict (Wiki) :

The 2012 East Democratic Republic of Congo conflict is a continuation of fighting that has gone on in North Kivu Province since the formal end of the Second Congo War in 2002–03. In April 2012, soldiers mutinied against the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mutineers formed a rebel group called the March 23 Movement (M23), composed of former members of the rebel National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP). Former CNDP commander Bosco Ntaganda, known as “the Terminator” is accused of leading the mutiny.