FRIDAY, 4.30PM
DEPUTY Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad on Friday said that a decision on SA arms sales to Rwanda will be taken shortly.
After meeting a Rwandan government delegation in Pretoria he told reporters this had been one of the issues under discussion. “We have been discussing this, but a decision will have to be taken by the NCACC (National Conventional Arms Control Committee).” Asked when a decision could be expected, Pahad said: “Very shortly, I hope”.
SA weapons sales to Rwanda were suspended in November last year pending the return of stability to the central African region. The decision was taken after indications that Rwandan armed forces had made cross-border incursions into former Zaire. At the time, SA said the suspension would be reviewed once cross-border violations by Rwanda ceased and a clear understanding emerged that its armed forces were using weapons for self-defence only.
Pahad said Rwanda had to be in a position to protect itself. “Rwanda has to deal with the return of well over one million refugees and the challenge to the government is tremendous. What we have to look at is the need for the Rwandan government to be able to protect its country, its sovereignty as well as the aid agencies in Rwanda.”