Paul Kagame, the unique boy poster development whose reputation has been tarnished by accusations of authoritarianism and fomenting conflict in Congo, will be greeted by protesters when he attends the Said Business School tomorrow to give a conference speech.
A coalition of activists, including Congolese refugees and a prominent Oxford University, are backing calls for the University to cancel the invitation, saying: it's a vote of confidence in Mr. Kagame at a time when it is under pressure from human rights violations.
The clash is the latest controversy surrounding Rwanda leader, who last year saw Britain suspend 16 million pounds of direct budget support to the Government by "credible" information that supported guerrilla M23, responsible for atrocities committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo nearby.
The ongoing dispute has done little to dent the enthusiasm in financial and political circles for continued economic growth in Rwanda, which will reach 8% this year. The first country ever sell Eurobonds this month, securing $ 400 million in funding for infrastructure and investment projects, was over-subscribed.
In a sign of thaw of relations with Britain, help single donor who rest by Rwanda, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the country, Louise Mushikiwabo, met Foreign Minister William Hague Thursday during the visit to London by a large Rwandan delegation.
But critics said the decision by the Oxford Business Network for Africa, a student organization within the school of commerce, to Mr. Kagame the first recipient of the Distinction of honour for African growth might taint the University.
A petition calling on the Group of students and the business school to cancel the price reached yesterday near 5500 signatures. A counter-petition, applauding the award, had collected 2,300 signatures.
In a letter to the Dean of the school, Professor Barbara Harrell-Bond, founding Director of the University of respect Refugee Studies Centre, said: "give honor to Mr. Kagame at a time when he and his Government are increasingly isolate themselves faced with evidence of their mounting human rights violations represents a serious error of judgment."
"It positions the organizers of the Conference and the University of Oxford, against the international efforts to pressure Mr. Kagame to end its abuse and play a more constructive role in the realization of African peace and development".
A spokesman for a coalition of opposition groups Rwandan and Congolese, including the release, a group of Congolese women's rights, added: "It would be shameful as the caliber of any Oxford University to ignore all information in the public domain on the Kagame crimes both on his people and abroad to roll out a red carpet for him."
School of business, ranked in the top ten outside the United States, said that the price was the decision taken by the Group of students but said that it allowed the event to today go forward due to its commitment to freedom of expression.
In a statement, the school said: "we attach an open discussion and... we have not sought to prevent students from the extension of this invitation. The presence of President Kagame in the Said Business School does not imply an endorsement by the school or the University, its opinions or actions. We are aware that President Kagame is considered by some as a controversial figure. ?
Group of students has defended the sentence, saying it was "in recognition of the work of [Mr Kagame] into the opening and development of the economy of Rwanda"and there would be a possibility for those who critique of his Government to ask questions. ''
The Rwandan Commission in London did not respond to The Independent requests to comment on the criticisms of Mr Kagame, who also will attend a celebration of the day of Rwanda for hundreds of members of the Rwandan diaspora in London.
Rwanda has strongly denied any involvement in the M23 and condemned a report of the United Nations, the Chronicle of links between the Group and senior members of the Rwandan army. Critics have also accused Mr Kagame's trampling on the media and political freedoms, maintaining a hostile environment for opposition politicians.
The Independent revealed that Scotland Yard has also served notice on two dissidents based in the United Kingdom in 2011 warning of "reliable information" that their lives were under threat from the assassins sent by the Rwandan authorities.
Britain earlier this year reinstated aid to Rwanda after put an end to direct budgetary support to the country in November last due to the activities of the M23. The 16 million books will be distributed in the form of direct payments to the poor to Rwandans and textbooks for schoolchildren.
The Independent understands he has no immediate plans to reinstate payment of direct aid to the Rwandan Government.
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