Rwanda: Paul Kagame receives General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba (in the center), commander of the Ugandan army and eldest son of Yoweri Museveni was in Kigali where he was received by Paul Kagame.
(illustrative image) AFP - PETER BUSOMOKE
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Could this be a sign of a warming of relations between Rwanda and Uganda?
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, commander of the Ugandan army and eldest son of Yoweri Museveni was in Kigali where he was received by Paul Kagame.
On the menu of the meeting: the complicated relationship between the two neighboring countries, which have accused each other of trying to destabilize for years and whose presidents, once close allies, are at odds.
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With our correspondent in Kigali
,
Laure Broulard
The discussion between Paul Kagame and General Kainerugaba was productive and cordial, according to the Rwandan presidency.
President Kagame and General Muhoozi @mkainerugaba had cordial, productive and forward looking discussions about Rwanda's concerns and practical steps needed to restore the relationship between Rwanda and Uganda.
pic.twitter.com/ga8Dk4HvrN
— Presidency |
Rwanda (@UrugwiroVillage) January 22, 2022
Last week, the son of Yoweri Museveni, whom some already see as the next president of Uganda, made a first gesture by calling Paul Kagame "
my uncle
" on Twitter.
This is my uncle, Afande Paul Kagame.
Those who fight him are fighting my family.
They should all be careful.
pic.twitter.com/YwBM5DwX0S
— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) January 16, 2022
His visit to Rwanda closely follows that of Ugandan diplomat Adonia Ayebare, who once again took on the role of messenger between Kigali and Kampala last Monday, January 17.
This is an important moment, recognizes a source close to the Rwandan government, who however says he is waiting for concrete measures from Kampala to improve relations between the two countries.
Rwanda has often accused its neighbor of illegally detaining some of its nationals and supporting rebel groups seeking to destabilize it.
It has
closed its border with Uganda
since February 2019. A situation that weighs heavily on border communities.
For the past two years, a regional mediation process has failed to bring former allies closer together.
The general's arrival could therefore mark the will of the two neighbors to settle their differences bilaterally, almost "
as a family
", analyzes Onesphore Sematumba of the International Crisis Group, referring to the formerly very close relations between the circles of Rwandan power and Ugandan.
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Rwanda
Uganda
Paul Kagame
Yoweri Museveni