Cancel Oxford address and award ceremony for Rwandan President Paul Kagame

The Oxford Business Network for Africa has invited Rwandan President Paul Kagame to attend their Conference at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School on 18 May 2013. Mr. Kagame will deliver a keynote address and receive “the inaugural Distinction of Honor for African Growth Award.” The Oxford Business Network for Africa should cancel their engagement with Mr. Kagame immediately, based on his well-documented record of serious and ongoing human rights abuses within Rwanda and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bestowing any honour upon Mr. Kagame at a time when he and his government are becoming increasingly isolated in the face of mounting evidence of their gross human rights violations represents a serious error of judgment. It positions the Conference organizers and the University of Oxford against international efforts to pressure Mr. Kagame to end his abuses and play a more constructive role in the achievement of African peace and development.

Read more:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/rwanda-must-investigate-unlawful-detention-and-torture-military-intelligenc

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/17/us-congo-democratic-rwanda-uganda-idUSBRE89F1RQ20121017

http://www.irinnews.org/report/97779/Briefing-M23-one-year-on

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/16/us-congo-democratic-rwanda-minerals-idUSBRE89F1M320121016

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20553872

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/25/rwanda-paul-kagame-war-crimes

http://www.hrw.org/news/2010/02/10/rwanda-end-attacks-opposition-parties

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR47/001/2013/en

http://www.freedomhouse.org/country/rwanda