Monday 10 September 2012

DRC: a playground of military alliances.


 By Gael Masengi


After a brief mandate of European Union Force (EUFOR) back in 2006, a total decade failure of the muscled United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUC) and lasting peace was never established, yet, the Democratic Republic of Congo is getting ready to welcome another army of clowns, this time is the so-called “neutral-international force” ‘to enforce peace’ in war torn eastern side of the country.

Congolese soldier
On Saturday, the lengthy diverted summit of a bloc called Great Lakes States in Kampala, Uganda, came to an end central and eastern African leaders agreed on the force composition which is said to be stationed in the Kivu regions to counterattack the ‘unstoppable’ Rwanda-backed, M23 rebels, but the unborn mission is threatened in advance by lack of money and international credibility. The question of who will finance the project that’s still a mystery; analysts believe that the talks may remain a pipe dream not only because cash is the main obstacle but the motive and the length of the mission is not clear.

Confronted by many challenges since his supposedly re-election in November last year, one of them legitimacy, Joseph Kabila has hit a dead-end when it comes to restoring his image as a capable president or a leader, throughout his more than ten years of dictatorship-like reign in wealthy DRC the man has failed beyond doubt to secure the country’s borders, repair the dysfunctional infrastructures, regenerating the economy or implementing a better social life for ‘his’ people. Yet, he’s accused of “treason”, Joseph Kabila faces an army of angry frustrated people who want nothing else but an explanation of Rwandan insurgents’ infiltration on the national defence force, again Joseph Kabila whose national approval rating probably is less than ten per cent, is unsuccessfully trying to appear to still be in charge of a larger country way beyond his governing means. Isn’t an irony that a country in size of western Europe is nowhere near military capabilities to defend its territories or treasury to fund or pay its public workers?! But its ‘president’, Kabila is opting to organise international event such as Francophonie summit (OIF) set for this 14th October in dusty Kinshasa, insisting on foreign leaders’ attendance, for one reason, to clean his polluted character and he’s willing to pay whatever price.

Tanzania, a fellow SADC country member is willing to contribute largely to the joint force with Kenya, the Republic of Congo and Angola offering their help as well but details of how they will contribute is still unknown. Congolese officials have said to refuse any participation of Rwanda and Uganda in the adventure –though both countries claim to have security interests in Congo– it also remains unclear whether Congolese troops will be part of the multinational force or they will manoeuvre around the mountainous eastern region by themselves without help from natives.