Gazing in the Congo (DRC): the dark heart of Africa (2006-2017)

[Michael F]

Some very interesting links and stories at France 24



Strange but typically French interview with Nkunda as well.

In the interview, the government spokesman said it would be illogical to negotiate with one rebell group only,...so rejecting Nkunda's demand for bilateral talks.....
It's absolutly silly for someone confortably seated in Kinshasa to condemn North Kivu to war because they refuse to admit their defeat.

About EU force, Germany and UK are not really keen to go. Friday, the EU command centre decided to postpone its decision (deploying a force) by a week. Even if it happens, it will be too little too late for most IDPs.

[Stan]

Michael, I concur. Years ago we also wondered what those diplos were thinking back in K-town watching TV and dreaming of White House duty

But wait, it gets better ...

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has called for the mandate of UN forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo to be strengthened.

"We need different soldiers, and different rules of engagement," he said after briefing his EU counterparts about his weekend visit there.

He actually does have a point, but I'm not sure French soldiers will be the answer. Maybe we could get the Brits to learn French or Lingala prior to deployment.

On the other hand, who needs to communicate while discharging weapons

[Tom Odom]

He actually does have a point, but I'm not sure French soldiers will be the answer. Maybe we could get the Brits to learn French or Lingala prior to deployment.

Well I guess if you want to test the theory that Nkunda is a Kigali-proxy, putting the Legion on the ground is a way to spark a response. I mean there is all that love lost between Kigali and Paris....

I know...we can get that single Japanese SDF company that I briefed in Goma in 94; that will work!

Seriously I don't see anyone falling all over themselves to jump into this pit. France has its baggage as does Belgium--although I think the latter would be better at it. but hey surprise me, send the Germans and call it

The Afrika Korps

Best

Tom

PS

I saw this on the daily wrap up on the blog.

I agree with this execpt one point as I highlighted in black:

Analysis: Hutu militias key to Congo conflict
Their fighting with the government has left about 250,000 people have been displaced since August, according to the U.N. A decade of insecurity had already left nearly 800,000 others homeless in North Kivu—a startling high number for a provincial population of 6 million.

Without disarmament of the Hutu militias, Congo appears likely to remain where it has been for more than a decade: the epicenter of a humanitarian mess with no clear solution in sight.

The only way to disarm them is hunt them down until they either die or they give up their leaders and their arms. The realist in me recognizes that is unlikely although I do wish it would happen, and soon.

[Stan]

Well I guess if you want to test the theory that Nkunda is a Kigali-proxy, putting the Legion on the ground is a way to spark a response. I mean there is all that love lost between Kigali and Paris....

I know...we can get that single Japanese SDF company that I briefed in Goma in 94; that will work!

Seriously I don't see anyone falling all over themselves to jump into this pit. France has its baggage as does Belgium--although I think the latter would be better at it. but hey surprise me, send the Germans and call it

The Afrika Korps

Best

Tom

Tom, Call me a stick in the mud, but I really liked the Kanucks in their 113s and 50 cal.s with belts dangling in the wind

Perhaps we could send in the AFRICOM teams and call it ?

Forget that one til after Wednesday

PSS
And at the link would be a pic of dad going to work in the AM with his trusty RPG as the kids wave goodbye ?

[reed11b]

Tom, Call me a stick in the mud, but I really liked the Kanucks in their 113s and 50 cal.s with belts dangling in the wind

Those Kanucks most have gotten over there NARCOSISTIC "MOTHER MAY I" problems and have realized that GAVINS are the fighting force of the FUTURE!!!!!
Reed
I will no quietly return to hell.

[Michael F]

Un spokeswoman for North Kivu made a declaration about Nkunda and Rwanda: "Meanwhile, the Associated Press news agency quoted a UN official as saying that Rwandan forces fired tank shells into DR Congo during last week's fighting. Rwandan officials had denied the allegations, spokeswoman Sylvie van den Wildenberg said, "but we saw it. We observed it." (BBC News).

Kinshasa still refuses to negotiate bilaterally with the CNDP. Nkunda made a press release reiterating that his unilaterl ceasefire would hold on 02 conditions: Direct dialogue with Kin and no FARDC reinforcement in Goma. He also indicated that up to now, Kinshasa did not fullfill any of those conditions....but his spokeman added that "capturing Goma was not the way to topple the government".

UN and NGOs staff have not been able to locate refugees that use to live in CNDP held territories. IDps camps are empty....Surely meaning they fled to their homes like Nkunda said ????? More probably deeper in the woods, which would make the humanitarian situation worse but invisible.

The former military head of MONUC, Gaye (SEN), is back for 6 month as his successor, SP Gen quitted after 27 days in duty.

Obasonjo (NIG) was appointed UN Special Envoy to DRC.

Price of food has increased by 50% this week in Goma.

[Tom Odom]

The good news: the UN Convoy is here!

Aid Convoy Reaches Rebel-Held Congo Town

By Derek Kilner
Nairobi
03 November 2008

A humanitarian-aid convoy escorted by U.N. peacekeepers has reached the rebel-held town of Rutshuru in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The town had been cut off from aid since rebels led by General Laurent Nkunda drove out government forces early last week. Derek Kilner has more from VOA's East Africa bureau in Nairobi.

The bad news: the UN convoy brought no food!

Hungry Congo refugees angry no food in UN convoy

KIBATI, Congo (AP) - Hungry refugees cheered when the first humanitarian convoy in a week arrived at their camp Monday, but the jubilation turned to anger when U.N. workers dumped only soap and plastic jerry cans instead of food and sped on past rebel lines.

U.N. officials conceded that hunger at the Kibati camp, where tens of thousands sheltered from fighting in eastern Congo, was dire but said the first priority was to resupply medical clinics looted by retreating government troops.

"Are we supposed to eat this?" demanded Boniface Ndayumujinya, an elderly man waving a bundle of spring onions brought by a friend. He said he was with eight family members who had not eaten in five days.

[Stan]

Tom, seems nothing has changed since our Goma days with 130s airlifting (dumping) winter baby clothes and flour into refugee camps (destroying banana fields).

[Ken White]

don't seem to learn...

[Michael F]

* Mai-Mai PARECO (nande) attacked CNDP positions close to Rutshuru. a MONUC base was caught in between the fires. Mai-Mai stated they will continue to fight the "occupation".
* Nkunda said he was ready to join the institutions on his own term. Surely, a way to smoothen his position while still pushing for rapid direct and bilateral negotiations with the Government.
* Government still refuse it and prefers multilateral (all rebell groups), long lasting, discussions to avoid being forceds to negotiate under pressure of the events.
*IC: EU CoS declared to the EU parliament that a EU ops in Goma would be a logistical nightmare. He did not reject the idea but made it almost impossible.
* Population IDPs:

* IDPS in CNDP held territories: 50.000 left the IDP camps, reportedly hidding in the bush.

\

Approx 300.000 around Goma: food for 10 days, drugs for a month, lodging and clean water are still major problems but aid is coming fast.

Others: up to 500.000 returned to their homes or found lodging and help among their families or locals.

The main question is: WHEN WILL NKUNDA RUN OUT OF PATIENCE ???????

[Stan]

Hey Michael !

*IC: EU CoS declared to the EU parliament that a EU ops in Goma would be a logistical nightmare. He did not reject the idea but made it almost impossible.

Not totally impossible, but nightmare seems to fit well.

It has always puzzled me why the Congolese even try to strike a deal when they know, they will never keep their promises. If Nkunda dumps the ceasefire, Goma will be renamed

[Michael F]

* In a press interview tuesday, Nkunda declared: "If they refuse to negotiate, it will mean they will be ready to only fight and we will fight them because we have to fight for our freedom,"
* As an answer, PM Muzito DRC stated again yesterday he wanted to discuss with ALL rebell groups and not one in particular.
* Nkunda's website published a declaration calling MONUC to stop Mai-Mai offensives in the Kiwandja area or to see the ceasefire end.

* Kagame is supposed to go to Nairobi tomorrow but in a press conference yesterday said "meeting Kabila is unnecessary", "Its an internal Congolese problem". The Nairobi meeting (sponsored by the UN) will gather Kabila, Kagame, other head of states, regional organization,... but is expected to change little to the situation.

* MONUC asked again for a 3000 men strong reinforcement (02 Inf Bn, Helicopters, SFs, 02 C-130). No nothing showed interest in providing such support.
* EU has almost abandonned the idea of a EU ops in Goma.

My conclusion: Nkunda could restart an offensive shortly. Most probably on an other front than Goma (Minova-SAke or Kanyabayonga). Kinshasa does not give a damn about the Kivutians and wants to save face.
*

[Stan]

It appears Goma is but a pit stop before Kinshasa

Rebel forces will push toward the Congolese capital of Kinshasa if the government continues to reject direct negotiations, says renegade Gen. Laurent Nkunda.

If negotiations are not agreed to soon, the ceasefire in North Kivu will end and the next offensive will push toward Kinshasa, 1,500 kilometres to the west, Nkunda said.

[Tom Odom]

It appears Goma is but a pit stop before Kinshasa

Maybe we can make this an annual, biannual, every 4 years, twice a decade, or once a decade event--counting the 1960s, 1970s, 1990s, and 2000s, we have some 6 or so major ground threats to k-Town, either from Katanga/Shaba or the Kivus or both.

best

Tom

[Stan]

Maybe we can make this an annual, biannual, every 4 years, twice a decade, or once a decade event--counting the 1960s, 1970s, 1990s, and 2000s, we have some 6 or so major ground threats to k-Town, either from Katanga/Shaba or the Kivus or both.

best

Tom

We could then cruise the streets again...

Ahh, the cheap lagers we acquired at N'Djili, the smell of burning tires, and the tracer rounds at dusk

We may have to pick a date for the reunion

[coloredopinions]

There is an element missing from the solution you offer to the current situation in eastern Congo: a truth and reconciliation committee for Rwanda, which Robert Krueger, former US ambassador to Burundi has been advocating.

The only way to disarm them is hunt them down until they either die or they give up their leaders and their arms. The realist in me recognizes that is unlikely although I do wish it would happen, and soon.

[Stan]

There is an element missing from the solution you offer to the current situation in eastern Congo: a truth and reconciliation committee for Rwanda, which Robert Krueger, former US ambassador to Burundi has been advocating.

Welcome to the Council, Coloredopinions !

Do you have a link for the remainder of us that have not yet read the former Ambo's recommendations ?

I would also ask you to go here and provide us with a brief introduction.

[Tom Odom]

There is an element missing from the solution you offer to the current situation in eastern Congo: a truth and reconciliation committee for Rwanda, which Robert Krueger, former US ambassador to Burundi has been advocating.

Ambassador Krueger has many opinions; he was US Ambassador to Burundi for part of the time I was in Rwanda. He sometimes offered opinions on Rwanda that were pure conjecture and bordered on hysteria. I personally heard him accuse the UNAMIR 2 Deputy Force Commander of assisting the RPA in covering up an incident of which Ambassador Krueger had only 3rd hand information through Hutu refugees. He writes of that meeting in his book as do I.

As for a truth commission, perhaps. Rwanda is already using gacaca for all its faults as a form of localized truth commission. But if Ambassador Krueger expects President Kagame to accept such a recommendation perhaps speaking of Kagame as a Svengali or Mephistopholes as Ambassador does in his book on page 109 is not likely to win points for the idea in Kigali.

finally I did not lay out a solution for the Congo; I said that I agreed with the analysis that stated any solution must address the Hutu militias.

I would suggest that if you want to offer an opinion, that you:

a. Not put words in my mouth.

b. introduce yourself with your background here

Tom

[Stan]

a truth and reconciliation committee for Rwanda, which Robert Krueger, former US ambassador to Burundi has been advocating.

Out of little more than curiosity waiting for your supporting link and introduction, I found the following statement rather humorous but hardly something that will sweep away the last 14 years. Way too much smooching for my taste and unlikely to change much now that the POTUS has been selected

Former United States Senator from Texas, Robert Krueger, who served as United States Ambassador to Burundi from 1994-1996, has appeared at various forums with Rusesabagina to advocate the need for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission not only for Rwanda, but also for Burundi. He agreed with both Rusesabagina’s praise of Senator Clinton and the call for additional commitment to the African Great Lakes Region. Krueger said, “I was proud to have been appointed by President Clinton, who always endorsed my outspokenness about violence in the region. But, I believe the United States should use its influence today to support Truth and Reconciliation throughout the region. Doing so will advance efforts to bury the genocidal conflict of the past and nurture peace and renewal. ”

[Michael F]

Apparently, my post number 33 "Nkunda could restart an offensive shortly. Most probably on an other front than Goma (Minova-Sake or Kanyabayonga)." was right. According to Reuters, CNDP forces have captured Nyanzale and Kikuku, 02 towns along the roads to Kanyabayonga. MONUC has deployed forces north of Kikuku to "stop the rebels". I wish them good luck to stop Tutsi battle hardened fighters infiltrating through the local jungle in direction of kanyabayonga.

I guess Nkunda will stop anyway...and surprise MONUC with an offensive on an other front again.

Ok, now i'm off for some vacation, no internet, no phone, just me the kids and my wife. See you in a fortnight and keep an eye on Laurent, Joseph, and Paul for me.