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.
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| 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.
