Tour du Rwanda: Cyclists ‘felt safe’ despite M23 rebel security concerns

The Tour du Rwanda has been running since 1988. It began as a local event and gained UCI recognition in 2009.

This year’s race had seven stages. Stage three ended in Rubavu, just across the border from Goma, and stage five started in Rusizi, which is next to Bukavu.

Team Amani coach Tsgabu Grmay, who first raced in the Tour du Rwanda in 2010, believes the conflict did not have an impact on this year’s edition.

“Everything is the Tour du Rwanda we’ve known before,” said Grmay.

“Honestly, for me, it was all safe. I didn’t feel anything like I was close to conflict really. I didn’t see it. I didn’t feel it.”

In a statement in January, the UCI said that “Rwanda remains entirely safe for tourism and business”.

Many Rwandans watching the Tour felt the same.

“I can assure everyone who is coming to Rwanda that it’s safe,” said Kampire Ovrine, a Rwandan brand ambassador on stage five in Huye.

“The conflicts out there, they’re not going to affect the country.”

Hakizimana, a Kigali resident, told BBC Tigrinya: “For us, this is just international news. We still have a right to secure our borders and, as you can see, everything is running as usual.”

According to the Tour’s official road book, external, security for this year’s race convoy was assured by the Rwanda national police, with 38 officers and a deployment of 15 police motorbikes and four other vehicles.

Mussa Kaberuka, a safety road manager for the Tour, said: “In general, security is good. 100 per cent.

“Rubavu and Rusizi, there are no problems.”