RWANDAN HIGH COMMISSIONER ON RAILS, EAC, ICTR

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000149

SIPDIS

DEPT AF/E FOR JTREADWELL & S/WCI RAPP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID PGOV ICTR KAWC KJUS TZ RW
SUBJECT: RWANDAN HIGH COMMISSIONER ON RAILS, EAC, ICTR


1. SUMMARY: In an introductory meeting February 10, newly
arrived Rwandan High Commissioner Fatuma Ndangiza told
Ambassador Lenhardt of Rwanda's priority of linking to
the port of Dar es Salaam by rail. She described
progress and challenges of East African Community (EAC)
integration and lamented the slow pace of trials at the
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
Ndangiza stressed Rwanda's commitment to improving its
business climate and moving away from aid dependency.
END SUMMARY.

East African Railways
--------------

2. Ambassador Ndangiza said President Kagame's initiative
for a Kigali-Isaka-Dar es Salaam rail line had been the
impetus for current plans for rail upgrades throughout
East Africa. Interest in the project intensified during
food and fuel supply shortages in 2008 during the period
of election violence in Kenya. Ndangiza said Uganda's
President Museveni was interested in connecting to the
port at Tanga via Arusha, as well as a northern corridor
linking Kampala and Mombasa. Now the whole East African
Community (EAC) is interested and trying to harmonize
efforts. She said the EAC expects to mobilize resources
this year and begin construction by 2011, with completion
expected by 2014. Ambassador Ndangiza shared that the
GOR worries the broader EAC project might delay their
critical central corridor link to the port of Dar Es
Salaam, and is proposing that section be prioritized.
She emphasized the importance of the project in deepening
economic integration, scaling up trade and investment,
and providing alternatives for land-locked countries.
Ambassador Lenhardt agreed, noting the benefits of rail
vs. trucks in terms of cost, energy use, and
environmental impact. In response to Ambassador
Ndangiza's query about whether the US is committing any
resources to the effort, he said the GOT must take the
lead and prioritize among their many competing
development needs. He added that the GOT must decide
soon whether to repair or upgrade parts of the central
line washed out by recent flooding.

EAC
---

3. Ndangiza observed that Rwanda and Burundi joined the
EAC (in 2007) because they felt more connected socially
and economically to East than to Central Africa. She
said the GOR's challenge is to sensitive the Rwandan
population about what the reforms mean, in order to keep
up with the pace of harmonization. She said there has
been great progress in that East Africans no longer
require visas or work permits within the EAC, but that
challenges remain, such as the fact that Rwandan border
posts operate 24 hours, while many neighbors do not.
Ambassador Lenhardt agreed harmonization would take time
and assured Ndangiza he had recommended sustained U.S.
support for the EAC.

ICTR
--------------

4. Ndangiza criticized the court for the slow pace of its
work, especially considering its high level of donor
funding. While the court had set an important precedent
for accountability of primary genocide perpetrators,
during the time ICTR completed 46 cases ordinary courts
in Rwanda have tried 50,000 "genocidaires," while the
traditional "gacaca" courts have completed 700,000, with
a fraction of the resources. Ndangiza observed that ICTR
officials are always asking for more time, rather than
focusing on completing more trials in a timely fashion.
She complained of ICTR's reluctance to transfer cases to
Rwanda, although the GOR had invited ICTR to train local
prosecutors, built new mode2j28W92,78%`% Q%Qh-kqRf{jD Noting that
discussions are still ongoing about where to house the
court's archives after its closure, she argued that a
transfer to Kigali would provide an opportunity for
ordinary Rwandans to access the archives and for visitors
to learn a great lesson on accountability.

Doing Business
--------------

5. Ambassador Lenhardt complimented Rwanda for the
dramatic improvement in its World Bank "Doing Business"
ranking. Ndangiza explained the GOR had set up a Rwanda
Development Board, through which all procedures such as
business licensing, tax registration and land titling
were centralized such that a new business could be
established within 24 hours. She described the
introduction of performance contracts at the local and
national government level; these clearly define expected
results, are evaluated quarterly, and have resulted in
improved social service delivery, greater transparency
and increased accountability.

The U.S. and Africa
--------------

6. Ambassador Lenhardt explained to Ndangiza President
Obama's vision of Africa as important to the world and as
a strategic partner, not a dependant. He noted the
President's food security and global health initiatives
and Secretary Clinton's focus on gender issues.
Ambassador Lenhardt expressed admiration for Rwanda's
empowerment of women leaders, an issue he is promoting in
Tanzania. Ndangiza stated Rwanda is looking forQ to
moving away from aid, and that Rwandans are proud when
people invest in their country rather than give "hand-
outs".

LENHARDT