9 November 2008
editorial
Kigali — It was reported, Friday that the Angolan armed forces had joined the conflict in eastern DR Congo.
This according to reports is a result of a request made by the Kinshasa government on October 29, when it became apparent that the rebel CNDP had an upper hand in the fighting.
Whereas the international community and more so regional countries have a role and obligation to help the warring Congolese reach an amicable and peaceful resolution to the conflict, no foreign country should try to escalate and further complicate the situation by joining the conflict militarily.
Military participation implies that those who are fighting perceive the problems of DR Congo as military in nature. The military aspect of the conflict is only a result of failure to chart and adhere to a fair political process. Thus the conflict that manifested through a military campaign is simply a symptom of deeper underlying political problem.
It would be more reasonable and proper for countries to help reach a political settlement rather than rendering partisan military support. What such countries that are reported to have intervened in DR Congo like Angola and Zimbabwe ought to do, is to urge their friends in Kinshasha to avoid the zero sum game they are playing and adhere to past agreements they are signatory to.
Despite deliberate provocation, Rwanda has refrained from joining the conflict, yet it is well known that there is a group-the FDLR/Interahamwe, that ought to have been disarmed, years as spelt out in past agreements. This should serve as aexample in restraint to the rest.
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I do not understand why people in Rwanda or their friends in the rebellion in Congo are speaking about respecting past agreements. What are those agreements? Can you spell them out please? Could you tell which agreement has been broken? Let's see if those agreements you are referring to are of the interest of Congo, rebels or Rwanda - intersting.
Have you ever wondered why your country fought Uganda in Congo some years ago? Are you so corrupt that you cannot remember that your country (Rwanda) occupied Kivu for more than a year. Don't you wonder why they coud not… [Read Full Text]
The problem in Eastern Congo is military in nature. A lasting peace there requires all militia and negative forces be disarmed(CNDP,FDLR,MAIMAI...) No political dialogue should be engaged with armed factions. Such a dialogue is not required of Rwanda with the FDLR and should not be required from Congo as a matter of justice.Congo has every right to invite in any friendly troops to disarm all local, supposed local and foreign militias once for all and drive them out of the country. We have been told all along that this is an internal Congolese matter. So Congo inviting friendly foreign troops… [Read Full Text]