Rwanda’s ambassador to Belgium in the hot seat? – Jambo News
A few days before the European Union-African Union summit, where Paul Kagame’s Rwanda will occupy an important place, we learn that the Rwandan ambassador to Belgium, Dieudonné Sébashongore would be in the hot seat. In addition to the many failures on the strategic files which try to carry out the Rwandan government in Belgium, many internal conflicts would intoxicate the work which the embassy must carry out.
” delegate», « at loggerheads », « unhealthy », this is how the many sources with whom Jambonews was able to talk extensively about the atmosphere that reigns at the Rwandan embassy in Brussels. Indeed, there would be strong tensions within the team and the catalyst for these would be the ambassador. The choice of Dieudonné Sébashongore as the new ambassador in August 2020 surprised everyone. In Brussels, he is at the head of the largest Rwandan diplomatic team in Europe, made up of about ten collaborators, whose five main executives are Gustave Ntwaramuheto (still in charge of intelligence despite the controversies), Grace Nyinawumuntu, André Bucyana and Jean-Pierre Nkunzurwanda (the last three having arrived in early 2021), and finally, Joël Ndoli Pierre, in charge of communication.
Little known to the general public, Dieudonné Sebashongore is a faithful and discreet servant of the RPF. With a doctorate in organic chemistry from the Catholic University of Louvain, he evolved mainly in the academic environment. Returning from Belgium in the mid-1990s where he lived in exile with his wife and two daughters, he taught for a long time at the Belgian School in Kigali. He later moved on to academia where he taught for many years, notably at the University of Rwanda and the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology. His major political experience he held from the position of President of the Council of the City of Kigali which he held from 2012 to 2015.
Incompetence and conflicts
Since he took office, relations with his collaborators have continued to deteriorate. The main reproach they make to him would be his inability to impose himself and to be visible. His communication is tasteless “and his attitude” soft“, according to one of his collaborators. Within his team at the embassy, he is criticized for not being able to really mark the spirits and to hold a firm speech to counter the opponents and the many detractors of the Rwandan government established in Belgium.
According to this employee: He has no experience of the mysteries of diplomacy, he seems lost, the suit is too big for him “. A source at the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Jambonews that: ” when Sebashongore was appointed for the position in Brussels, many knew it was going to end badly, he does not have the profile. He doesn’t know anything about diplomacy or international relations, he’s only good at doing chemistry, and even then…”. Another embassy employee, at a private event, dared to make a mocking statement: “We cannot leave the benches of the Belgian school in Kigali one day and the next day have to defend our country in the capital of Europe. »
For his part, Ambassador Dieudonné Sebashongore remains straight in his boots. For the ambassador, if there are hiccups in the embassy’s communication and lobbying work, ” it’s the fault of the young people “. Indeed, the current does not seem to pass between this sexagenarian and his team composed mainly of forty-somethings. According to a regular participant in Embassy activities: Sebashongore criticizes the youngest for their lack of connection in political circless Belgians and european “.
According to this person close to the embassy: Even if it is true that there are criticisms that can be leveled at Dieudonné [Sebashongore]this machination against him is the work of the most extremists within the embassy who want to harm him because they cannot as radical as they are”. The latter stating in passing that ” none of his collaborators has half his education or experience. Contrary to the gossip of these gossips, Dieudonné [Sebashongore] is a man of great intelligence “. Indeed, Ambassador Sebashongore differs from his predecessors Amandin Rugira and Olivier Nduhungire, the vast majority of whose interventions consisted in attacking opponents and critics of the power of Kigali. Asked what could explain this difference in behavior, this close to the embassy answers: “ Rugira and Nduhungirehe become so to please the most extreme frank who is also the most influential, Sebashongore has nothing to prove, he simply does his job“.
Communication and tariff lobbying on the Rusesabagina case
On the side of Kigali, reproaches also fuse and it is the management of the Paul Rusesabagina affair which is debated. In the line of sight, the management of the communication managed by Joel Ndoli Pierre, a former of the Office of the Spokesman of the government. In June 2021, a resolution in favor of Paul Rusesabagina was passed in the Belgian parliament. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kigali was informed well before the vote on the current draft resolution and prepared a seven-page note entitled ” Paul Rusesabagina Fact Sheet “Details the argument of the government against the hero of Hotel Rwanda. “The embassy was responsible for disseminating this note as well as possible to the Belgian political class”, we appointed an official from the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This did not have the expected impact, because none of the deputies took up the arguments of the note and the resolution passed quite easily.
Another mismanaged case is that of public communication before the verdict of Paul Rusesabagina’s trial. The judges’ decision was scheduled for September 2021. The Embassy provided behind-the-scenes work to ensure that influencers would support the upcoming judicial decision. In the end, the result was insignificant, the press overwhelmingly criticized the judicial decision and did not relay the arguments aimed at justifying a conviction of Paul Rusesabagina at the end of this trial with a verdict in advance. ” Yolanda [Makolo]those in the Office of the Government Spokesperson and in general the higher echelons of the Ministry did not appreciate“, we confessed this framework. ” Many criticize the weakness of the ambassador’s network within the Belgian political milieu and his tendency not to strictly follow the lines that have been set“, revealed this official of the ministry.
Chaotic management of the Ibuka file
Finally, the chaotic management of the Ibuka affair does not help him. Indeed, Ambassador Sebashongore was made aware of Ibuka’s legal difficulties several weeks before they were made public. The order was to be as discreet as possible. Ibuka being one of the instruments of influence of the Rwandan government, it was imperative to avoid hampering its image. Nevertheless, the secrecy did not last long. After Jambonews revealed Ibuka’s legal troubles, Pandora’s box opened, several media took it up and the case was even covered by the most important French-speaking Belgian daily. In short, bad publicity which the Rwandan government would have done well without.
On the side of Félicité Lyamukuru, who was recently discharged from her position as president of the association, the pill is not going well. While it is common knowledge that his relations with the ambassador are bad, ” she would feel like she was dropped and thrown to the wolves by the embassy confides a member of Ibuka. Ernest Sagaga, who had made an explosive and critical statement on the management of Ibuka on the airwaves of the BBC, was then supported by the embassy to take over the presidency of Ibuka instead of Félicité Lyamukuru. This materialized during the GA of January 21, 2022, the purpose of which was to save the association which was then in the sights of Belgian justice.
A message of compassion that does not pass
“It is not the Tutsi people who were killed, it is the Rwandan people who were killed and who suffered This is what Ambassador Sebashongore said in March 2021 during an Ibuka symposium which had the theme: “The fight against Holocaust denial and the urgency of educating”. The latter mentions in passing what he described as « rwandan genocide “.
An astonishing intervention that totally clashes with the line taught, propagated and hammered by the Rwandan government. Among the most extremist wing, these remarks are considered Holocaust deniers and unforgivable.
Language error, oversight or sincere desire to include all victims? Whatever the explanation, the damage was done for those who adhere to the theories of the regime, according to which one should speak only of the Tutsi victims. According to an Ibuka member: this is certainly where the hatred between Félicité Lyamukuru comes from [ancienne présidente d’Ibuka Belgique] and Dieudonne Sebashongore. “.
This statement, which embraces the vision and positions of certain organizations criticizing ” apartheid memorial of power in Kigali, earned him praise, thanks and congratulations from certain critics of the memorial policy advocated by the RPF regime.
Thanks to Ange Kagame
Faced with this conflicting situation, Dieudonné Sebashongore nevertheless remains very calm. Because, “He knows he is protected at the highest level”, we are appointed a member of the embassy. Indeed, his daughter Rachel Iriza maintains a very strong friendship with Ange Kagame, the president’s daughter. Rachel Iriza was even recently appointed director of strategy for the powerful investment fund of the RPF, Crystal Ventures.
Ange Kagame, who is now one of his father’s collaborators in the presidential services, remains quite discreet publicly. Nevertheless, his influence is increasingly felt on various political and diplomatic issues.
Moreover, if Dieudonné Sebashongore has an important credit, he owes it a lot to his wife Jeanne Murebwayire. He has long been in his shadow. She was Donald Kaberuka’s right arm for a long time when he was finance minister. A brilliant economist, she is considered one of the thinking heads of the architecture of post-1994 Rwandan budgetary and economic models.
” It is certain that without his daughter and his wife, he would not be here in Brussels. He would still be with chalk to write on the board. ironically entrusts this same executive of the Ministry. This feeling of nepotism nevertheless creates jealousy among some of his closest collaborators who now lobby with aplomb so that he ” be disconnected as soon as possible “. The ministerial official admits that everyone is asking one and the same question : “How long will his support at the highest level continue to protect him? “.
Emmanuel Hakuzwimana
www.jambonews.net