13 November 2008
editorial
Johannesburg — THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) has finally plucked up the courage to dispatch monitors to the borders between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.
Unfortunately, knowing the borders are being monitored will not be much consolation to the hundreds of thousands of Congolese who have been forced to flee before advancing rebel insurgents.
The immediate cause of the fighting is the Congress in Defence of the People (CNDP), a rebel militia led by former general Laurent Nkunda in North Kivu province, which has gained the upper hand against a weak and disorganised Congolese army. However, the CNDP has for years been getting funding, arms and other support from Congo's eastern neighbours, which have also contributed to the humanitarian crisis in the country by regularly attacking dissident groups of their own nationals who have sought sanctuary in Congo following past conflicts in the region, or after taking up arms to fight for liberation from oppression. Little wonder that Congolese villagers who are being forced to leave their homes for fear of their lives are taking out their frustration on the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force in Congo, which is unable to protect them because its mandate does not include the use of force and it has therefore been in retreat itself.
According to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the number of displaced people in North Kivu has grown by about 252000 since September as a direct result of the peacekeepers' inaction, adding to Congo's existing refugee population of some 800000.
The entire Great Lakes region is at risk of being destabilised if SADC fails to act on the outcome of its monitoring mission. Similarly, the UN cannot afford to waste time reviewing the mandate of its peacekeepers. The Rwandan genocide continued for months without international intervention under similar circumstances 14 years ago. History cannot be allowed to repeat itself.
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This is true. We are witnessing a great injustice in the DRC right now. Speaking of genocide, over 5 MILLION congolese have died but look at the world's reaction to that? They are still talking the 94 genocide in Rwanda but fail to give any thought about innocents congolese.
SADC should really act this time around. Rwanda has been taking advantage of the world naivety for far too long. I am happy that many people in Africa have now understood that Rwanda and its allies in Congo are simply cowards.
As you have mentioned, I think SADC must ensure that… [Read Full Text]