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Congo-Kinshasa: War About Minerals Not Militias
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Rwanda News Agency/Agence Rwandaise d'Information (Kigali)
ANALYSIS
7 December 2007
Posted to the web 7 December 2007
Kigali
The raging battle launched by DR Congo army aided by UN forces in the country may be seen internationally as targeting militias roaming the jungles of the area but now information coming through indicates otherwise, RNA reports.
Souces in the Kivu area just bordering Rwanda are reporting that the conflict does not seem to be what is actually on the ground.
At a meeting in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), with leaders of the Great Lake countries, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, said it was urgent to support the capacity of Congolese security forces to enable them to counter "negative forces" in the area, guerrilla gangs based in the east of the country which prolong instability.
Among these guerrillas - explicit mention was made of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, some of whose elements are blamed for the Genocide in Rwanda. The Congolese government also wants rebel General Laurent Nkunda reigned. But as it turns out from sources, the geography of the conflict is different.
"With regard to the Great Lakes crisis, the international community appears to have changed its course " the Catholic news service Agenzia Fidel qoutes a missionary source to have said but prefered not to be named for security reasons.
« However it should be remembered that the main cause of the fighting in East D. Congo are its natural resources.»
The missionary adds : « The blame is put on the 'negative forces', but who can explain why these men, wanted by international justice, and in an area where UN peacekeepers are present, are so well equipped? Their weapons are better than those of the regular army, they have medicines, new uniforms and boots, tins of food and powdered milk. Whose are the helicopters which fly over the area where these militia are to presumably supply them? Do they fly away empty or loaded with minerals?" the missionary wonders. »
Media reports from the battle zones indicate that government forces are having it the easier way as they over-run village after another. But what is noticable is that the media campaign by the army may be working - as frontline successes appear in major news media. General Laurent Nkunda's personnel also say the fighting is to their advantage.
"Government troops returned to Goma chanting victory, but we know they suffered heavy losses" said the missionary who is in the east of DR Congo. "Violence is reported only in north Kivu, southern Kivu is quiet."
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), thousands of people are in the midst of the bombing. Women are at risk of the rampaging militia and government forces, not forgeting the UN forces- as they are raped. Children are forced to fight and used as loot carriers.
"People in the affected area are fleeing their homes and the number of displaced persons in dramatic conditions increases every day. This is the rain season and in the mountain area of east Congo it is cold", the Agenzia Fidel source said.
Meanwhile, this morning, the American diplomat in Kigali Mr. Michael Arietti told reporters that Gen Nkunda must give up his arms or face the the war machine. The diplomat also rejected the long standing claim by Nkunda that he is fighting to protect his Banyamulenge community.
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There is a government in Congo, Arietti said, that has the responsibility to ensure security for all its people - not Nkunda.
I told you about nkunda that guy is a very sick person how caqn just in a big country like Kongo which is not yours because it's true nkunda is not Kongolese for real he is not ,how can jump out nowhere and say I am protecting my people !!!!!! He must go where he belongs , to Rwanda which is his country not Kongo ,you have read what the missinary fidel agenzia said , It's not because of so called " forces negatives" but the naturels resources this fool nkunda is there to protect those guys who are digging... [Read Full Text]
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| Copyright © 2007 Rwanda News Agency/Agence Rwandaise d'Information. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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