In his 2009 speech in Accra, Ghana, President Obama said that America should support strong institutions and not strongmen. But in the case of Rwanda, this has been no more than rhetoric. Rwandans, like most Africans, cheered Obama’s election, hoping that it might signal a new, more peaceful and cooperative relationship between the U.S. and Africa. But Obama has expanded AFRICOM and now remains silent as Rwanda’s strongman, President Paul Kagame, prepares a sham presidential election to retain his brutal grip on power.

At this briefing, we are calling on Obama and the U.S. State Department to not recognize the legitimacy of Rwanda’s upcoming August 9th election results, and to stop militarizing Africa and supporting repressive regimes.

Speakers to include:

• Paul Rusesabagina, Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation

• Peter Erlinder, International Humanitarian Law Institute of Minnesota

• Pascal Kalinganire, Organization for Peace, Justice and Development in Rwanda and Great Lakes Region (OPJDR)

• Claude Gatebuke, Rwandan Activist

For more information about the press conference, please call 202-584-6512 or email rwandaelections@gmail.com. Visit Friends of the Congo or Africa Faith and Justice Network for more details.

This event is cosponsored by the International Humanitarian Law Institute of Minnesota, Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation, Foundation for Freedom and Democracy in Rwanda, IPS’ Foreign Policy In Focus, Africa Faith and Justice Network, Africa Action, Friends of the Congo, Mobilization for Justice and Peace in Congo, Shalupe Foundation and Organization for Peace, Justice and Development in Rwanda and Great Lakes Region (OPJDR).