What if Rwanda declared war on the DRC?

After the publication of the report from the U.N Group of Experts on the Congo crisis, in which Rwanda was accused of supporting the M23, a rebel group fighting in the eastern Congo Democratic, Rwanda has been under tremendous pressure to "admit" its support to the mutineer group. In July 2012, the government of Rwanda issued a rebuttal in response to the report; sadly it was swallowed by harrowing noises of western media.

Following the accusation, most European countries, which are also major aid contributors, retained their aid money to Rwanda. One of many ways the international community pushes third world countries on the brink of destruction. It is worth mentioning that financial intimidations are nothing compared to what Rwanda has endured. There was a time Rwanda was left to disappear like a drowning island. The times when Rwanda had no soil left to absorb blood of babies and the elderly. The times our enemies prayed gods to fall spear rain on head.

Even in the times of economic and political unrest, Rwandans refused to let puppets drool on our plates. Nor would Rwanda allow strangers to sound the trumpet on our behalf. As loud as we spoke, despite the efforts, diplomacy has reached its breaking point. Patience on both sides is wearing thin. The political staleness has caused weary bewilderment for what could happen.  

As widely believed, in the absence of diplomacy, weapons do the talking. President Kabila has called on his fellow countrymen to stand up against Rwanda's invasion. An announcement Rwanda has not made. I pray Kabila is not dreaming of a possible "assault" on Rwanda. A move Rwanda would prefer rather than arguing over rotting flesh King Leopold left unburied.

Here is a scenario:
    What if Rwanda declared war on the DRC?  
If Rwanda did, there would be softer landing through existing rebel groups in the Congo. A declaration of war would make Kabila's claim legit, giving Steve Hege and his disciples reasons to yawn louder.

Then what? Kabila knows he risks to flee his country like Marshal Mobutu whose great wealth couldn't buy him a cemetery plot. Even though war is the last resort, it is likely to befall on us. Should this be—God forbid, the road to peace between Congo and Rwanda will be a treacherous one.

President Kabila, the master of buck-passing, wants Rwanda to own the failures of the lazy giant. He has repeatedly accused Rwanda for being the architect of Congo's misery. In the past few months Kabila and his supporters have caused more damage than previously thought. The political stranglehold between both countries has come to a halt and the financial situation in Rwanda is yet to be hurt by the wrong findings Steve Hege orchestrated.

Rwandan leaders have always prophesied one thing: " We are not a twig on which any dog can piss on." I think of career seekers who pretend to know our problems and who impose solutions on us. How I wish I could tell Steve Hege that the conflicts in the Congo are older than my grandparents and most likely to remain the same for many decades to come.

Our countries have held so much inside— the soil is eroding away from trenches of tears. For too long bad politics have fed vultures with decaying corpses. I hope our leaders can cry with mothers, who watch helplessly as their children are bitten by snakes, and those whose lives are exposed to dangers of wild nights. President Kagame was a refugee for a long time—so has been Joseph Kabila. Have you forgotten? How it felt to be a refugee, let alone in your own country?

Isn't time to join evil and holy hands in the name of peace? But precious peace will not come so long as RESPECT is not the common ground for our leaders. What binds us together as nations is the music, color of our skin, culture; our difference, shared pain and struggles of life that are far greater than what sets us apart. This time around, may we us encourage peace, embrace unity and respect our differences.  By this, we put an end to violence.  

Comments