The Observer (Kampala)
Felix Emojong
30 December 2008
opinion
My reason is not to dance on the graves of innocent Congolese, including my own young brother, Cpl. Peter Oupal, who have since perished in the bloodletting adventure between human beings driven by greed rather than grievance.
If I were in General Laurent Nkunda's shoes, what else would I have done to resolve the conflict in eastern Congo?
Imagine having participated vigorously in the campaign to rid the then Zaire of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko and only end up being 'sidelined' by my own compatriots at the 'eating table'! In the absence of a convincing political solution to Congo's problems, I would coin several reasons that would send me to the bush.
Political isolation would be my first excuse and this would be tied to the threat faced by my Tutsi ethnic group. The second reason would be the threat of depletion of Congo's natural resources and finally, the complacency of the international community on the several attempts to resolve Congo's crisis.
I would imagine that following the overthrow of Mobutu we would have borrowed Ugandan President Museveni's 'political medicine' of forming a government of national unity. Yes, it is said to have initially worked in Uganda and Kenya too has learnt lessons from it, although the tired looking 'Angel' Gabriel of Zimbabwe thrives on reneging on such pacts. I have no doubts it would push Congo to some level of sanity. As you can now all see, Kabila Jr is now busy signing business contracts personally in total disregard of other genuine economic and political activism.
This business of a president, the top leader in a country, getting bogged down by trade negotiations, renders him incapable of controlling the army. So what do we consequently see? An undisciplined army backed by a myriad of government-sponsored militias threatening to wipe out 'my' Tutsi ethnic constituency. How could you expect me to sit and watch my people being decimated by rabble groups?
Also, my country is well endowed by god-given natural resources that I see being looted both by the government and its foreign friends. And since my intended anti-government campaign will be based in this vast eastern Congo, why couldn't I take advantage of these free resources to finance my war? The looting of these resources would tie-in very well with the theories of environmental conflict. As Normal Myers correctly states, 'If a nation's environmental foundations are depleted ...the outcome is all too likely to be conflict'. I would also get assurance from Johann Galtung's theory which states that "destruction of the environment may lead to more wars over resources".
Then what happened to the Nairobi declaration and Goma agreement? Where are our so-called international partners who would facilitate the implementation of these truces? As you may know by now, those have perhaps since developed cold feet and left my people to suffer. The Nairobi declaration, according to Neil Campbell, provided for the normalisation of relations between Rwanda and Congo. It also talked of disarming the armed Rwanda Hutu rebels that participated in the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. 'None of the guarantors of these accords had the courage to press Rwanda or Congo to respect their commitments' Neil stated in a press release dated November 8, 2008, in the International Herald Tribune.
Neil Campbell recently stated that 'it is imperative for the European Union to push Rwanda and Congo to honour their commitments. The EU should not be distracted by internal negotiations on military assistance - any force will have to work with UN peacekeepers in support of a clearly defined political process. A diplomatic role for the EU is the more feasible and effective option'.
So what would I have in order to start the war? Lack of immediate response by the largest ever UN peacekeeping force would lend me an opportunity to recruit the numerous unemployed youth roaming the forests of eastern Congo. I would know that there would be no interference from such a redundant force if I launched the insurgency. The availability of a fighting force coupled with exploitable resources to finance it would be a trigger enough for me to launch the military campaign. And since there is no semblance of governance in this part of Congo, why couldn't I use the porous borders to 'import arms' for my planned activities?
In order to end this carnage, there is ample time and resources to implement the Nairobi Declaration and the Goma Agreement. Short of that the war continues.
Lt. (Rtd) Felix Emojong, The writer is studying for a Master's Degree in Conflict Resolution at Lancaster University, United Kingdom
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While reading the above topic you can easily detect a Rwandese language and understand how keen they are to partake in the DRCongo's business. DRC big or naturally rich should be a Congolese business. Any other countries interested to re-structure this big nation, if they are very close and sharing the same border, must first accept to become a DRCongo's department then get involve with the all-business. It is really deplorable to see an entire nation loosing sleep, forgetting their own basic needs and planning to build up projects on other people's resources. Such interests and desires will soon die away as everyone has got their own land and the future looms really strange and different. Jesus-Christ will remain the ultimate judge, amen!
I would disagree even if what you say may appear, at first glance, to make some sort of sense. The idea that Congo is a table where politicians such as Nkunda, Kabila or whoever can serve themselves is really rubbish. And that, for me, is what forms the basis for your sympathy for Nkunda. Nkunda fought, like many other Congolese and not all of them are on that table you are referring to.
You also do not give any thought on what the people of the Congo feel, think or want. Anyone who wants to SERVE HIS COUNTRY should do so without seeking to steal from it or destroy it. I would have been impressed if Nkunda became a politician and convinced, not only his tribesmen, but all Congolese that he has better options for the country than Kabila.
Dear Felix Emojong
I would like to remind you that Laurent Nkundabatware Mihago's days are numbered. He will sooner or later be captured alive or dead, either by the FARDC, the Congolese people or by his own entourage. Despite the atrocities he has committed in the Congo, you Rwandans continue to support him because he is a Tutsi. Ironically you are urging the DRC to hunt rwandan's genocide suspects. Nkundabatware is nothing else but a criminal, just like some hutu elements that are hiding in the Democratic Republic of Congo. You can't condemn one genocide and allow and encourage another. I know for certain that 2009 will not be like 2008. The Congo will have to go forward and become a superpower at the heart of Africa. You may not like it, but nobody is going to stop the Congolese people's resolve to put an end to the sufferings and to pave a way for a national revival.
Dear Godfrey
I am quite astonished by the way you predicted the situation in the DRC. What you said about Laurent Nkundabatware is exactly what has happened. You are a prophet! The world needs people like you who are able to see far beyond the horizons
What did I tell you about your general L.Nkundabatware Mihago? On Jan 5th 2009 I told you that his days were numbered. I also predicted that jhe would sooner or later be captured dead or alive. It has happened. I am not an expert on the Gret Lakes Region, but I could read the signs. The plot was set and it was only a matter of time for the act to unfold.
I am disappointed that this article has been written by someone doing studying for a Master's degree in Conflict Resolutions at a Britiush University. It is really a shame. There have been democratic elections in the DRC, and democratic institutions have been put in place. In 2006, the People of Congo gave their verdict. Anyone wanting to lead the DRC has to be elected by the people. Laurent Nkundabatware Mihago was a General in the Congolese Army, a top official. For you to say that he has been sidelined politically shows that you have no idea about what is happening in the Congo. You have a responsibility, as a Rwandan citizen, to prevent genocide from taking place again in your own country. It is likely it could happen again as long as the Hutus are excluded from the political power system. To exclude them further your country leadership has even adopted English to meet the needs of the tutsi leadership vs the hutus, who are Francophone. Create a political environment that would be an incentive for the hutus in exile to return to Rwanda so that they can help rebuild your country that depends 99% on foreign aid and on looting the Congolese people's resources. For those who thought they could split the Congo into small states in order to give space to Rwanda because it cannot cope with its birthrate, one of the highest in the world, I tell them that their dream will never come true. The entire World is now waking up to the reality that the Congolese people, despite their multiple languages and ethnic groups, are more united than previously thought, and attempt to divide them will not succeed. Long live the Congo!