Press release - Jambo ASBL
Jambo ASBL, an association of young Rwandan refugees in Belgium, strongly condemns the defamatory remarks made by the Rwandan Government as a diversionary tactic at a time when an increasing number of countries are imposing concrete and targeted sanctions against the war of aggression being waged by the Rwandan army (RDF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a tweet posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the Rwandan Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Mr. Jean-Damascène BIZIMANA, accused Belgium of supporting so-called “genocide denial” associations such as JAMBO ASBL, as well as certain Belgian individuals whom the Minister also labelled as “genocide deniers,” such as journalist Peter VERLINDEN.
These off-topic comments by Minister BIZIMANA are part of a recent series of attacks by the Rwandan government aimed at diverting attention from the sanctions imposed by Belgium and adopted by the Council of Ministers of the European Union against three generals of the Rwandan army involved in military operations in Eastern DRC.
In addition to the diplomatic rupture between the two countries, the Rwandan Government is clearly attempting to shift the debate by baselessly accusing Belgium of supporting so-called genocide deniers on its territory.
These outdated and unfounded accusations were the subject of a defamation and slander complaint filed by JAMBO ASBL and several of its members in 2019. An investigation, led by a Belgian examining magistrate, is still ongoing against several individuals who misused these accusations, including Rwandan Minister BIZIMANA himself, former Belgian-Rwandan senator Alain DESTEXHE, Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Olivier NDUHUNGIREHE, and former Rwandan Ambassador to Belgium Amandin RUGIRA.
To allow all public or private stakeholders to freely express themselves about the conflict in Eastern DRC and the human rights situation in Rwanda, JAMBO ASBL now relies on the judiciary to shed light on these relentless slanders.
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Norman Ishimwe SINAMENYE
Chairman of the Board
Brussels – March 26, 2025