Blaming Rwanda on DRC Instability overlooks vital realities
The international community risks hurrying into the trap by wrongly taking the DRC crisis, putting the luggage of problems over Rwanda’s shoulders though this ignores vital truth on the ground which might have a significant impact of encouraging a very long civil war; as signs of quick solutions for the area seems to be yet distant.
According to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, most states which attended a high-level meeting in New York (on the sidelines of the U.N General Assembly), with Rwandan president Paul Kagame and Congolese president Joseph Kabila “condemned all forms of external support” to the rebels.
But apart from accusing Rwanda and adding other unnecessary complains, there were no answers to some questions that need immediacy attention other than continue alleging Rwanda as sponsor to M23. There should be answers to questions like: What is the real cause of insecurity and instability in eastern DRC and what can be the solution?
How can Rwanda stop supporting M23 while the support never existed according to the Government? Does this mean the real roots of insecurity and instability in DRC is caused by Rwandaphones and do not involve other tens on armed groups in the area? Then one must also tell the World the reason of rebellions in DRC.
In addition, it is not clear who is supposed to define the Rwandan alleged support to the M23 and who will declare the support has stopped, or never existed in case this so called proficiency report will be undoubtedly proved wrong and malicious.
Before suggesting sanctions and put pressure on neighboring countries like it’s the case for Rwanda, the international community must step up for answering those questions.
The international community is omitting a very key point, which must be looked on and need a long term treatment; that’s the DRC leadership. Independent political analysts have been arguing that DRC needs a strong leadership which has been missing for many years.
This has led to many consequences including insecurity and human rights abuse. More than forty armed groups are counted in eastern DRC. The country has been hit by corruption which forced government soldiers and rebels to collect illegal tax from the population.
The inadequate treatment of the soldiers who cannot regularly get their salaries and other benefits and the fail of installing strong institutions are among the reasons of such instability.
Last week, a scandal of imaginary government employees was announced DRC, and that costs above 8 billion CFA francs. Pacifique Issoibeka, the former DRC finance minister had warned the Congolese authorities in 2010, that 60% of the public procurements were phony.
It is obvious to all what can happen in terms of the national security considering such a disorder in the public affairs’ management.
The international contradiction is, some countries have suggested the sanctions against M23 chiefs and others wanting them to be brought to justice, yet there are some others who are in contact with both sides for the sake of the solution.
The US secretary Hillary Clinton and other countries representatives have shown their positions on the issue, by suggesting M23 chiefs to face justice.
Meantime, the International Conference on Great Lakes region (ICGLR) has recently commissioned the Chairperson of ICGLR and President of Uganda, Yoweli Museveni to continue political talks with M23 in agreement with DRC and ICGLR members. Is that not a contradiction?
“…..It is something that generates interest, but we are short of a real concept of operations and this is why a lot of work needs to be done,” said U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous after the meeting in New York. Although the UN officials seem to be pessimistic about the force, it may be unnecessary if an agreement is reached between DRC and M23 rebels with Yoweri Museveni as head of mediators.
