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| Christine Aguilera visiting Rwanda |
“Christina Aguilera knew visiting war-torn
Rwanda would be eye-opening. But it wasn't until she spent time in
Kigali, Rwanda, on a hunger relief mission this June – visiting refugee camps
and seeing the severe poverty firsthand – that she discovered just how
profoundly moving the experience would be.”
Though the article promotes godly values such as
empathy and compassion People Magazine’s article was based on inaccurate
assumptions. In
that process I believe it created an inaccurate perception of both Kigali
and Rwanda that merits correction. The Kigali People Magazine
describes is one I have never seen.
First, there is no war in Rwanda. There was a war
fought from 1990 to 1994 that resulted in the
1994 Genocide against the
Tutsi. Now Rwanda and her capital city of Kigali are some of the
safest places you can find.
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| 2020 Vision Estate, Kigali, Rwanda |
Rwanda has occasionally suffered incursions and
grenade explosions in markets from the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda
(FDLR) based in Eastern Congo. The FDLR is largely made up of
the remnants of those who perpetrated the Genocide in 1994 that retreated to
Congo. Also, Eastern Congo has been plagued with civil unrest and
war for a number of years in which various militia groups (which include the
FDLR) operate.
I am currently living in the American city of
Chicago. Some call Chicago, “The murder capital of
America.” The reality is that Chicago has some tough violent
neighborhoods. Yet, it also has some delightful neighborhoods, and
great educational and economic opportunities. African
Diaspora are flocking to Chicago (http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/international/2013/08/05/spc-inside-africa-chicago-a.cnn.) It would be both
inaccurate and hurtful to Chicago for Diaspora to repeat the negative
stereotypes. I don’t know any Diaspora who communicates about
Chicago in stereotypes. I believe Rwanda and Kigali deserve the
same dignity.
The refugee camp visited by Ms. Aguilera was in
Kigeme. The Kigeme camp is populated largely by Congolese
refugees that Rwanda has graciously received (http://www.wfp.org/stories/christina-aguilera-and-yum-brands-fight-world-hunger-new-psa.)
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees
reports,
“Rwanda hosts another 43,000
refugees, more than 99 per cent of whom are also from the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC). The majority of these refugees live in three camps, in Gihembe, Kiziba
and Nyabiheke, with a small number residing in the capital, Kigali. This brings
the total of refugees and asylum-seekers in Rwanda to more than 57,600. The
worsening security situation in the DRC limits these refugees' prospects for
return (http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e45c576.html.)”
Besides these inaccuracies there is a YouTube video
explaining Ms. Aguilera’s trip that though it may show accurate scenes from
Kigali likely creates inaccurate perceptions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aP46YKM-Dg.) From my perspective
inaccurate perceptions actually increase the likelihood of poverty becoming
systematic. The video shows Ms. Aguilera with children singing and
dancing. It also shows Ms. Aguilera cooking food, and distributing
school supplies. She says in referring to hunger, “It is time
for us to do something about it.”
Kigali is a city of paradoxes. It has a
growing middle class. The city is not only safe, but
clean. Universities are thriving. Yet, a portion of
Kigali is poor. I agree with Ms. Aguilera that it is time to do
something about poverty.
I suggest the best answer can be found in the
dreams of the Rwandan people. Those of us who
do not carry
Rwanda passports should show our concern by first listening. We
should read the 2020 Vision (http://edprs.rw/?q=content/vision-2020.) Then we should adapt
our plans to best fit Rwanda’s dream. The vision is to transform
Rwanda into a middle income country with a knowledge based
economy. The pragmatics of the plan calls for investment in
education and business.The images the Western media creates of Rwanda many
times negatively affect the implementation of this vision. Long-term
investors in business and education are most stirred by images of
hope. Rwanda has many and these images are the ones that should be
most seen.
If we from the United States feel compelled to address
the Congolese refugee situation in Rwanda I offer two suggestions.
First, it is time to cease enabling the Congolese conflict (For further reflections see http://hekimagreatlakesmessenger.blogspot.com/2013/08/pastoral-reflections-on-congo-stop_30.html.) Second at the
risk of rumor mongering, I have been hearing persistent rumors that some of
the Congolese refugees in Rwanda may soon be resettled in the United
States. We should be praying about this rumor. If it
does happen we need to rally American good will to match the hospitality and
kindness of Rwanda.
Thank you Ms. Aguilera for displaying compassion to
the Congolese refugees in Rwanda. I ask that People Magazine
correct the inaccuracies in their story on Ms. Aguilera’s visit to Rwanda.
