Nope, No Way! President Kagame Isn't Behind Unrest in Eastern Congo
Maybe You Shouldn't Be Quick to Buy Into it Either
Hello rafiki 😊
Welcome to the Not an Afterthought newsletter, where we lead the conversation on how to accelerate Africa’s socio-economic development and how to use technology to drive effective change that makes Africa not an afterthought.
I am not a conspiracy theorist but...
Isn't it funny that soon after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) joined the East African Community (EAC), relations between Rwanda and DRC soured, and war broke out in Eastern Congo?
Remember what happened in 1977?
Uganda accused Kenya's government of supporting rebels against Uganda's government. Kenya, in turn, accused Uganda of illegal incursions into Kenya.
Everyone assumed the accusations were legit!
It destroyed relations between 🇰🇪 🇺🇬. That was the beginning of the end of the East African Community.
Later, it became evident the West helped destroy cooperation because they didn't want to be locked out of EAC's resources. One study noted that "the impact of foreign influences as a result of the Cold War" contributed to EAC breakdown. [SRC]
Fast forward to 2022. The Democratic Republic of Congo joined the East African Community, and numerous experts sang the benefit it would bring to the region.
One benefit is that it would be harder for the West to exploit DRC resources because the Democratic Republic of Congo had the weight of the East African Community behind them.
Suddenly, relations between DRC and Rwanda deteriorated so quickly that there was a threat of war.
East Africans, war?
How often have we seen this script play out in African countries with rich resources?
Libya? S.Sudan? Angola? Go on, keep listing. Chances are high you have another country in mind.
Everyone was so quick to blame President Paul Kagame, but fellow East Africans, do you realize President Kagame is the architect of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement?
He has been at the forefront of encouraging regional integration in East Africa and Africa?
President Paul Kagame has constantly advocated for bringing dignity back to Africa through working together as Africans?
He has backed up his words with action through AU agenda 2063? Did you listen to his words when Congo was signed to join EAC on April 8th?
Do you honestly believe that the person who did and said all that is suddenly a different person who wants to destabilize DRC? Even if you believed Rwanda wanted DRC resources, logic dictates that Rwanda stands to gain more by regional cooperation instead of war.
So, nope, I don't buy it.
I don’t buy that Rwanda is on a mission to destabilize DRC.
I don’t believe that the rebel groups rose organically in response to Kinshasa failing to fulfill its promises. Why now when the promises were made 10 years ago?
Maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to buy it either. Not until you've thought about it critically. This is too familiar a script!
Those that have been stealing DRC's resources stand to gain more with DRC destabilized, alone, and at war.
Think about what this businessman from the West said in 2001:
"Your President is a crook, and this country will suffer a lot in a very short time. You Congolese must know that this country and its minerals are not yours but ours."
Hell, read the entire piece yourself.
👇🏾
Civil Wars and Lootings in the Congo.
There is no doubt that if East Africa, Congo included, achieves the Jumuiya goal of "One People One Destiny" the world will bow to what this region can and will do.
When DRC joined EAC, all Jumuiya presidents and the Jumuiya Secretary General, Honorable P. Mathuki said their first agenda was peace in Congo.
To that end, President Uhuru invited the rebel groups from the eastern Congo, with the blessings of all EAC presidents, including President Kagame.
They developed a strategy that would see the beginning of peace. Then boom! Barely 3 weeks later, war broke out.
Does that make any sense to you?
And if you doubt the power of EAC to foster peace in a country, please read about EAC's role in bringing peace to South Sudan.
It is doable, but peace will only benefit East Africa and Africa. Everyone else (read the west and their multinational mineral companies) loses.
No one likes to lose!
I wasn't alive in 1977, but chances are high that, as a Kenyan, I would've believed the propaganda that led to EAC collapse.
You are alive now! You know how much the world has taken from Africa and how much it would like to continue doing so! Maybe this time around, we shouldn’t buy into it that quickly.
This was on the @The_EastAfrican two weeks ago:
Residents of Eastern Congo are rejecting an EAC force.
The more Africans play into the script of those who benefit when Africa is at war, the more we give away our continent piece by piece.
The East African Community can't succeed without the goodwill of the East African people. It is a people-centered community.
Tafadhali, let's examine this issue from all angles before making conclusions. Let us not let others divide us for their benefit.
Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed the article and think others might as well, kindly share.
If this is your first time here, here are a couple of issues that you might have missed.
Frequently Asked Questions About The East African Community
Dissecting the East African Community’s Customs Union: How Has it Benefited EAC Citizens?