Originally scheduled for the EAC media professionals, the Congo agenda dominates the meeting.
<img5036|right>Thursday, August 9. Nine o’clock in the evening. The Burundian delegation arrives at the Kigali Serena Hotel for the East African Community media summit.
Security is tight. Just at the entrance of the hotel, police officers and a police dog perform the security check of the minibus of the department of the Presidency responsible for EAC affairs and the one carrying us. The inner courtyard is packed with uniformed security officers.
The driver stops the vehicle to allow journalists to get out. Someone says that the place is not appropriate. The driver must continue to the other side of the hotel. One by one, members of the Burundian delegation get out of the car. “It is forbidden to enter the room with your mobile phone!” says a security officer. Journalists want to know why. But it is like that.
At the entrance of the conference room, a check-up similar to the one we underwent at the airport. Better: They even check a pen. “This is too much.” whispers a journalist.
“The President of the Republic will open the summit," replies his Rwandan colleague. It’s true: the decor of the room is not only for journalists. At about 10 p.m., the master of ceremony gives instructions.
With a particular emphasis the MC says: "You should stand up when the president shows up." Suddenly, the president enters: not only do we all rise, but we also applaud him. Silence, then Wimbo Wa Jamuiya wa Afrika Mashariki (the anthem of the EAC) is played. The ceremonies begin.
Media is a key partner
"The media is making progress: Let us take advantage of the benefits of the common market of the East African community to build a free media undertaking. “ This was the theme of the summit. All interventions were centred on this subject.
First, comes Ambassador Richard Sezibera, Secretary General of the EAC.
Next, the Rwandan minister in charge of integration, who also invites the Guest of Honour to make the keynote speech. Two important highlights recur in the speech of President Paul Kagame: government-media relations and media responsibility. According to the president, the media and governments must be partners, not opponents, while each conserves its independence. In addition, the region’s media should play their role in a professional manner.
According to the Rwandan president, Western media are reporting more often than local journalists on what is happening in the region. Unaware of realities, Kagame says, they often mislead public opinion. In addition, the Rwandan president says western media seek to impose their vision. He then encourages the local media to professionally cover the events of the community in order to consolidate democracy, good governance and development in general and at the EAC level.
After the speech of the Chairman, many presentations in relation to the media and the common market were given by different experts. Key presentations included free movement of media services, framework regulation of the EAC member states for the free movement of media services, the media and the private sector, the prospects for journalists and the role of the East African Legislative Assembly in the consolidation of the common market protocol.
At the end of the discussions, there were recommendations aimed at EAC member states and media. Staff of the EAC general secretariat announced to the audience that they would send meeting minutes by e-mail.
The day ended with the presentation of awards to the best reporters of the EAC: all countries received awards with the exception of Burundi.
Heated debate about Congo
Friday, August 10: the same discipline is demanded for access to the conference room in the Kigali Serena Hotel. The EAC Secretary General had announced the previous evening: "As per your wish, Rwandan president Paul Kagame has willingly agreed to have an interview with media leaders. The interview is set to occur tomorrow and it will last just one hour, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m." A few minutes before the announced time, a document is distributed. It originates from the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Content: "Update on the instability in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and allegations of Rwanda’s involvement."
Some minutes later, the Rwandan president enters the conference room. He superficially answers three questions in relation to media. An apparently prepared journalist comes with a question on Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict in eastern DRC. "That’s off-topic," some journalists whisper. No, it is not! Paul Kagame listens with interest to the question, and he nods. And he is right as his response on the Congo issue will last one hour and 15 minutes!
He denies all allegations and goes on to explain the crisis as being the consequence of the failure of the Congolese Government to find a lasting solution through political dialogue and effective integration. He recalls the origin of the Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese population, the violated agreements (Pretoria 2002, Nairobi 2007, Umoja wetu operation in 2009). Kagame also denies any Rwandan support to M23. However, he says political, diplomatic and military initiatives taken by Rwanda in DRC are related to peace and security.
After the departure of the president, the media meeting participants seem to lose interest in the remaining agenda.
Behind the scenes
• The paper on which the EAC anthem is usually written in Kiswahili was translated into English and Kinyarwanda, but not Kirundi
• While it was said in the program that the Permanent Secretaries of the ministries in charge the Information of each EAC member state had to make a presentation on the current framework for the free movement of media services, Burundi’s representative had not prepared anything. He delegated this task, by surprise and in front of the public, to the secretary of the National Council of Communication, who apparently was not aware that she had to make the presentation.
• Victor Mubwigiri, a Burundian journalist for the Burundi Press Agency, was on the list of finalists of this second edition of EAC Media Awards. He had received a plane ticket paid, and a hotel room duly booked in the Kigali Serena Hotel. His name was not called on the list of winners. Swallowing his pain and disappointment, he stoically suffered in silence and kept taking pictures of his lucky award-winning fellow journalists. Therefore, there was no award for Burundi.
* Insubordination: at the opening of the Summit, the protocol service committed a sin of omission. While the president was going to make the keynote speech, the podium used by previous speakers had remained in the corner. Paul Kagame himself asked the protocol officer to place it well before in front of the audience. "I need to see all of you,” he said.
