Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda: " Appelle-moi mon cherie, appelle-moi "

Africa Top Success reports

Telephony: Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda adopting a common local rate

Good news for the Rwandan, Kenyan and Ugandan consumers. Up from 1st. September 2014, the communication between these three countries will be charged in local rate. This was the decision that was just taken during the 6th. summit of the “North Corridor Integration“.

This is an excellent initiative.

With the initiative “One-network-aera“, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda removed the telephone communication borders. From 1st. September 2014, the mobile phones users will no more need roaming during their travels in these three countries. The communication costs will be the same as if they were in their country of origin.

As a Vodafone user it pisses me off that I can't avoid roaming charges when traveling in countries that Vodafone operates in.

" Vodafone owns and operates networks in 21 countries and has partner networks in over 40 additional countries. Its Vodafone Global Enterprise division provides telecommunications and IT services to corporate clients in over 65 countries. "

The usual way of dealing with the telecom's price gouging is to have a second phone and purchasing an alternate sim card when you arrive at your destination. Phones with multiple sim's are common in Africa although that has more to do with infrastructure reliability.

The South Sudan will join three aforesaid countries before the end of the year, according to a communiqué relayed by Jeune Afrique Magazine. According to the same source, this new initiative will reduce at 60 % the cost of the telephone communication between the signatory countries of the agreement.

The initiative should be expanded to include all the remaining Great Lakes Nations, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia. It will be interesting to watch the economic benefits that accrue from this, they should be significant.

The Rwandan government indicated that “mobile phone operators will have to renegotiate their bilateral agreements to assure the complete implementation of the agreement within the indicated dates.”

A bit ironic for this blog but well done Rwanda. Telecom's are notoriously reluctant to alter their business models, if they won't innovate then I have no issues with a bit of government intervention.

Let us remind that Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda signed several agreements that facilitate the free circulation of their populations. Since 1st. January 2014, three countries have adopted a common tourist visa.

This will certainly complement the visa effort. The challenge will be extending these gains across the remaining Great Lakes member nations and breaking down barriers to growth caused by international borders.

DR Congo: " Forever kissing frogs that think they're princes "

All Africa reports

Africa: Sustained Engagement a 'Paradigm Shift' Boosting Peace Prospects for Great Lakes and Congo

                                                                        Russ Feingold visits the DRC

Washington, DC — I walked into the State Department just over a year ago to take on my new role of U.S. Special Envoy for the African Great Lakes Region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Part of my eagerness in accepting the job came from the recognition that we were entering a period of unprecedented international commitment to and partnership with Africa, including the Great Lakes Region.

Lets remember that Feingold does seem to view the Great Lakes Region with rose coloured spectacles. 

" Russell Feingold, US special envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa, said the deal needed to raise the issue of amnesty and reintegration of rebels ( M23 ) into the army to ensure its durability."

Now you could argue that with regard to amnesty and M23's reintegration into the Congolese Army ( FARDC ) that America if not the international community with demands such as that was very much advocating for a continuation of the statuesque. It was a bloody stupid statement and given how things played out, a statement I suspect he regrets making. American exploitation of Congolese resources through the offices of Rwandan President Paul Kagame is not partnership.

Having worked on Africa for over 18 years in the U.S. Senate, on too many occasions I watched the international community swoop into parts of Africa in times of dire crisis, only to swoop back out after the first sign of progress or failure. Today, I believe we are witnessing a paradigm shift in how the international community, and the United States in particular, engages with Africa.

Really. A paradigm shift ? The Intervention ( Africa ) Brigade was an initiative of The International Conference for the Great Lakes Region ( ICGLR ) and specifically ironically proposed by Rwanda and Uganda both nations were some what horrified to discover that there was no room for their troops in the brigade. The Intervention Brigade has been one of the game changers for the region and the US and the International Community had bugger all to do with it.

" It takes a lot for a Kiwi to feel sorry for France but I must say I am starting to think they are getting an unjustifiably hard time. Let us remember the Intervention Brigade concept grew out of a meeting of the ICGLR ( International Conference Great Lakes Region ) and was put forward by Rwanda and Uganda under the Africa Brigade monicker. The ICGLR loved the idea and then decided that the Brigade would be more effective as part of MONUSCO much to Rwanda's horror, how fucking ironic is that. Rwanda was given enough rope and promptly hung themselves. "

The increased commitment of the United States and the international community is already bearing fruit in the Great Lakes. When I was appointed, Secretary Kerry's marching orders were to do everything I could to help the region end the armed rebellion by the M23 rebel group. The tide had begun to turn against the M23 in early to mid-2013, after the international community and the region increased the military and diplomatic pressure on all parties. A key element of that push was the establishment of the UN's intervention brigade within the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC and the negotiation of the Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework, signed by 13 African countries.

Historical revisionism ? The US and the International Community ( excluding African Nations ) had very little to do with the " ..tide turning..." As I point out above Feingold was initially so out of touch with reality he suggested M23 should be reintegrated into FARDC.

These steps helped pave the way for a resolution to the rebellion. In addition to military pressure, the end to the rebellion was achieved via the Kampala Dialogue, facilitated by Uganda, with the active participation of a team of international envoys that included the outgoing UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, Mary Robinson, and me. In December, the Nairobi Declarations were finally signed by the DRC and the M23, representing the political resolution to a long-running rebellion.

And so we descend into farce. The Kampala talks were a joke, in the end the DRC Government and M23 signed different documents and it occurred in Nairobi ( these were Kampala talks ) after the military defeat of M23. Lets not pretend that the Rwandan backed M23 reached a political agreement with the DR Congo Government.

" I am of the opinion that Kinshasa are just going through the motions at the Kampala peace talks and so it would now seem are M23. The real issue is that there is nothing for either side to talk about. This much vaunted political solution has failed yet again, neither side is participating in good faith that leaves a military solution on the table. " 

At that point, we could have declared victory and gone home. Instead, we increased our efforts to help the region fully implement the Nairobi Declarations and the Framework, with the vital goal of achieving sustainable peace and prosperity in the region.

Who could have declared victory ? The US, the International Community ? Lets not bloody well lie to ourselves, we had very little to do with it. The progress that has been made has been made by African Nations not by the West or the US. Is this another colonialism ? Yes. Have we gone home ? I suspect we have.

One of the Framework's core objectives is to eradicate all armed groups. The international community and the region, including the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, currently under the effective chairmanship of Angola, are now demonstrating unprecedented commitment to once and for all neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a rebel group whose members include individuals responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

" ...all armed groups " That is how we will be judged.

The FDLR has been active in eastern DRC for years, destroying communities, committing heinous abuses, including sexual violence and the illegal recruitment and use of child soldiers, and causing mass-displacement – without any accountability.

It would seem that like M23 the FDLR will not face any accountability. That is a political reality I hate but the alternatives are worse.

" When it come to crimes against humanity I am very much in the " never forgive , never forget " school. However much this goes against the grain it is probably the only workable solution and the alternatives are far worse."

Again, we are seeing progress, although with much work still to be done. Earlier this year, the FDLR committed to voluntarily demobilize, in part to avoid military action by the DRC military and the UN. Regional governments have since announced a six-month timeline for the FDLR to fully demobilize. This process must be credible and irreversible, and the timeline cannot be an excuse for six more months of predatory behavior or false promises to demobilize by the FDLR.

I think the FDLR will demobilise. It boils down to death or surrender. Let's not forget though, that we in the West had fuck all to do with it.

It's up to all of us in the international community to remain engaged and to help the region ensure that the Nairobi Declarations are implemented and the M23 is permanently demobilized, and that the FDLR is finally and fully neutralized and its leadership held accountable.

Just how are you going to hold the FDLR accountable ? The M23 leadership has not been held to account. They are in Rwanda and Uganda. Feingold would do better to stop talking shit designed for Western consumption. The best we can do at the moment is to stop the killing and yes that is far more important than locking up the genociders in the Hague. The dead will wait for the living.  

Mary Robinson made an enormous commitment to progress in the Great Lakes. While the world will welcome and greatly benefit from her leadership in her new role as UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, she will be missed in Africa.

A separate blog. No she did not and neither have you. She will achieve nothing in her new role. She will not be missed. She did very little and has moved on to a job in which she will achieve less. I am very disappointed with the former Irish politician. We can handle global warming, you had a job to do and you fucked up, you left before you had done it. Mary Robinson you are a lite weight.

To continue building on her work, the UN Secretary General recently announced the appointment of Said Djinnit, former Special Representative of the Secretary General for West Africa, to succeed Robinson. Ambassador Djinnit's appointment is a reassuring and welcomed sign of the UN's sustained commitment to the Great Lakes.

He couldn't be worse.

When President Obama welcomes African heads of state to Washington on August 6, it will represent more than a one-off meeting. It will affirm deepened and sustained U.S.-Africa economic, democratic and security cooperation. It is this type of expanded commitment and cooperation which has allowed us to support marked progress in addressing the conflict in the Great Lakes region.

Yawn.

Russell D. Feingold became U.S. Special Envoy for the African Great Lakes Region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on July 18, 2013. Throughout his 18 years in the United States Senate (1993 to 2011), he served on and led the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa.

He is starting to understand the job. I would leave him and hope.

DR Congo: " Meaningless words, yellowed by time, faded photos exposing pain "

New Times Rwanda reports

Remarks by Rwanda Permanent Representative to the UN

                                                          Rwandan UN Ambassador Eugène-Richard Gasana.

Remarks by Permanent Representative to the UN, Eugène-Richard Gasana, at the UN Security Council briefing on Monusco/PSC Framework.

14 March 2014

Thank you Madame President. I thank SRSG Kobler and SESG Robinson for taking the time to brief us today on the reports of the Secretary-General and ahead of Monusco’s mandate renewal.

As the Secretary General report highlights, despite the positive developments of late last year, it is clear that the momentum has slowed, with limited progress on both the political and the military fronts. We are looking at a volatile security situation in not only the East but throughout the country.

I have no idea what report Ambassador Gasana is referring to. It would be logical to assume it is the most recent report, you can find it here. Go read it and then you can determine if " the momentum has slowed,.. ". I suspect you will reach the same conclusion that I have, that being, Gasana is talking shit. Something that is not uncommon with Rwandan officials.

“Negative forces” are still at rampage; killing and maiming, raping young girls and women, recruiting children and causing thousands of displacements of civilians. The seriousness and scale of killings and violations that continue in Katanga and in areas formerly occupied by M23 in North Kivu are deeply troubling.

Actually the report says nothing of the sort. I would suggest that it realistically details the situation in the East and points to some substantial progress. I can only assume Gasana is making this shit up for domestic consumption by the supporters of the Kagame regime. From the Secretary General's report:

" The situation in North Kivu remains volatile. Following the defeat of the M23, MONUSCO issued a warning to other armed groups, urging them to surrender or face military operations. Through sustained pressure and a proactive communication campaign by the Congolese armed forces and MONUSCO, armed groups, including Mayi-Mayi Lafontaine, Forces populaires congolaises (FPC), Mayi Mayi Simba, Mayi-Mayi Shetani and the Mouvement pour la libération du Congo (MPLC), expressed their intention to discuss the terms of their surrender with the Government. "

A major reason for this is the prevalent culture of impunity that continues throughout the country. All perpetrators, whether from the FARDC, which has committed 18 % of crimes reported in 2013, or any other armed group, must be brought to justice and held accountable for their crimes.  

Cry me a bloody river. That a representative of Rwanda has the gall to make this charge when Rwanda are the principal culprit behind much of the instability and it is Rwandan proxies that have benefitted most from the culture of impunity makes this charge one of the most cynical hypocritical I have heard in quite some time. Have a look at Rwanda's export receipts for coltan, a mineral it has virtually none of and then ask who has benefitted from a culture of impunity. Rwandan militias have raped the Eastern DR Congo and its people. 

There is no doubt, no doubt, that the next few months will be critical and we need to take a serious look at how Resolution 2098 is being implemented especially in the neutralization of negative armed groups; in the consolidation of the peace process, and in the protection of civilians in liberated areas.

What a dickhead. Resolution 2098 is the UN resolution that authorises the Intervention ( Africa ) Brigade. It was also a result of a major Rwandan own goal. We don't need to look at how Resolution 2098 is being implemented. We need to make it clear to Rwanda that it doesn't now or in the future have any further role to play in the Eastern DDR Congo. 

" Some how we are meant to believe that the political approach and the military are at odds despite both efforts being mandated under Security Council Resolution 2098. It then moves to the farcical with a reference to the ICGLR ( International Conference on the Great Lakes Region ) summit is somehow related to the United Nations as if it was another arm of the organisation rather than a separate body altogether. To make matters worse he either does not know or conveniently forgets that the origin of the Intervention Brigade or as I term it due to its origin the Africa Brigade is a request from the ICGLR to the UN Security Council. 

Fortunately or unfortunately from the perspective of Rwanda the UN Security Council made sure that the Africa Brigade was a neutral force tasked with extending the sovereignty of  the DR Congo rather than the Kigali aligned force Rwanda wished it to be... "

We welcome the reports presented by briefers on some members of some armed groups that have peacefully surrendered and indeed we applaud FARDC supported by Monusco for attacking and destroying a number of ADF camps. The resumption of the Minova trial is another positive development and we look forward to a conclusive prosecution that can set a precedent for future cases.

I agree the Minova trial is positive, it shows a commitment from Kinshasa and FARDC to clean up the mess that FARDC had descended into. In other words and contrary to Gasana's comments above an ending of the culture of impunity. Of course while the atrocities were occurring in Minova, M23 and their allies the Rwandan Armed Forces were  inflicting the same atrocities on the people of Goma during the M23 occupation of the city.

"  Human Rights Watch has documented at least 24 cases of summary executions by M23 fighters during the M23’s occupation of Goma and nearby areas, between November 19 and December 2. All but three of the victims were civilians. Human Rights Watch research found that M23 rebels raped at least 36 women and girls in and around Goma during the same period, including at least 18 wives of army soldiers and a 10-year-old girl, who died from her wounds a day later. The M23 forcibly recruited army soldiers and medical officers, police, and civilians into its ranks in violation of the laws of war, and took them to its military bases for “retraining.” They also looted hundreds of homes, offices, and vehicles. "

When Rwanda starts its own prosecutions of its Armed Forces for their role in the above crimes one might take Gasana seriously.

The recently promulgated Amnesty law as per Nairobi agreement is also positive step in national reconciliation but one that will require measurable actions. We urge Monusco and international community to closely monitor its implementation.

Yes. The amnesty that will allow M23 to escape the consequences of their actions in the Eastern DR Congo. When this guy talks about impunity the only possible response is laughter, or tears.

Madam President,

However, these positive developments should not obscure the fact that one of the oldest armed groups remains at large. As always for the past 20 years, the problem that we have is the posture of the DRC government and the UN peacekeepers ‘currently Monusco’ towards the threat posed by FDLR genocidal forces responsible for the Genocide against the Tutsi. 

The posture of both MONUSCO and Kinshasa is transparent. They will be neutralised, most probably by force.

Throughout the last quarter of 2013 we were told that FDLR are next on the list of negative forces to be eliminated; what happens from when the promise is made to the next briefing, no one knows, no accountability… At our last meeting on Monusco, the military operation plan presented to the Security Council was that FARDC was to go after ADF, they did it.

Actually we were told no such thing. I was surprised that the FDLR were not the next group targeted by the FARDC, MONUSCO and its offshoot the Intervention ( Africa ) Brigade it was an assumption most Congo watchers made. However by September 2013 it should have become obvious that things might not proceed in the order we assumed. 

" I suspect that the ADF haven't thought through the consequences of this little bit of murderous adventurism. I hope the price that is extract in return is so high that we will never again have to read about these pricks."

Following that, we were told that Monusco was to put their resources against FDLR. Nothing happened! Only a week or two before this briefing, do we hear in the news that there was a military operation against FDLR. This threat of FDLR persists despite the mandate of Monusco, which was given extra offensive capabilities after the deployment of the Intervention Brigade and the lack of Monusco to commit to fighting this force remains evident.

I have argued numerous times on this blog that the timing is something that the allied forces of FARDC and MONUSCO and its Intervention Brigade will determine. That is just common sense. Rwanda seem to think they have some say in this issue, they don't.

Once again, It is high time we see a change of attitude of the DRC Government towards the FDLR; Rwanda has for several years expressed legitimate concerns with the lack of political will of the Government of DRC to tackle the threat of FDLR. Various UNSC reports have detailed evidence of all kinds of support given to FDLR by DRC and Rwanda has even provided more.

It is utterly appalling that the Rwandan Ambassador to the UN is even worse informed than than the nations propaganda outlet New Times, that is inturn so utterly incompetent that it can't even take note of what the major world news services are reporting. I blogged on this issue two days ago noting: 

" Or in other words New Times Rwanda have published today ( 14/3/14 ) a report that fails to acknowledge casualties reported two days ago by Al Jazeera."

The MONUSCO, Intervention Brigade, FARDC coalition have commenced operations against the FDLR.  

The continuous excuses given by Monusco again and again when it comes to conducting military operations against FDLR, is kind of disturbing. When it is not excuses of lack of intelligence, (and which Rwanda did share with Monusco), it is engaged in propaganda operations to hoodwink the UNSC about military operations with FARDC against FDLR.

What excuses? MONUSCO has given no excuses whatsoever. Equally before commencing operations against M23 it gave no excuses and was roundly criticised for that. The coalition of forces are presumably preparing and again as I have said time spent in preparation in a military context is rarely time wasted. Why the hell the coalition would keep a hostile government such as Rwanda informed of its preparations is beyond me but when you live in the fantasy world of the Rwandan regime it would seem anything however improbable is in fact possible and desirable. As for hoodwinking the UN Security Council the charge is laughable.

On 09 Mar 14, Monusco/FIB jointly with FARDC raided FDLR illegal roadblock along Karengera – Tongo road. Reliable information reveals that Col Ramadhan, acting FARDC commander of the 8th Military Region, leaked information of the impending FIB attack on FDLR, hence undermining this operation.

That is an allegation that I have only seen in pro Rwanda news reports to date. If it should turn out to be true and I am deeply skeptical, I would imagine Col. Ramadhan will face a treason trial and if found guilty will pay the ultimate price.

It is not only Rwanda expressing frustration over inaction against negative forces; the countries of the region, under ICGLR have expressed frustration by lack of political will by Monusco to address the threats of armed groups in the Great Lakes region.

Really ? What countries would they be. The most obvious would be Uganda and as far as I am aware they have said nothing of the sort. In fact the exact opposite would seem to be the case:

" Officials said Uganda's chief of defence forces, General Katumba Wamala, met Congolese counterpart Didier Etumba in the town of Beni in Congo's North Kivu province, where Kinshasa was launching military operations against the rebels. "

As I said I have no idea which audience this speech was aimed at but if it was the international community, to whom it was given, it will only have confirmed as if any confirmation was needed that the Rwandan regime is not to be trusted ever on anything.

Eastern DRC has been host to domestic and foreign armed groups particularly M23, FDLR and ADF-NALU. As a result, ICGLR came up with detailed mechanisms to address the situation, including political and military measures. Some of these mechanisms have been taken over by UN, including Intervention Brigade under Monusco and yet the major threat posed by FDLR has not been tackled.

Yes as I said above that was a major diplomatic cock up on Rwanda's part. Mind you with diplomats of the caliber of Ambassador Gasana that is not all that much of a surprise. The reason the UN through MONUSCO is in command of the Intervention Brigade is that members of the ICGLR ( International Conference for the Great Lakes Region ) decided that the Brigade was a good idea but putting Rwanda in charge as Rwanda proposed was rather akin to putting the fox in charge of the chicken run. You might want to bare that in mind when you asses the reliability of the ambassadors statement on the frustrations of other countries in the region. Other ICGLR are frustrated but that frustration is aimed at Rwanda not MONUSCO.

This was again subject of ICGLR Heads of State Summit in Luanda, Angola on 15th January 2014, where the Chiefs of Defence Staff of Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa were again tasked to assess the situation and come up with new mechanisms of eradicating FDLR.

I will let the ICGLR own website deal with that. It is of course another out of context load of shit.

On the FDLR Current Situation; Let me briefly share with you some updates on the FDLR activities. The FDLR strength is estimated to 3,640 with infantry integral weapons. This strength is likely to increase due to ongoing recruitment and training.

What a load of bullshit. The FDLR have been shrinking in numbers for years. Even Kigali has made that claim and it seems to be born out. Yet this fool thinks he can make that statement and the world will agree with him.UN Experts Group for the DR Congo put the number at about 1500.

" Based on interviews with ex-FDLR combatants and UN sources, the Group estimates FDLR has approximately 1,500 combatants in both provinces (see S/2013/433, para. 97); of these, approximately 1,000 are in North Kivu. The Government of Rwanda told the Group that FDLR has 4,000 to 4,200 combatants."

Currently, FDLR is engaged in the following activities:

* Enhancing collaboration with FARDC especially at operation level. This has enabled FDLR to refit, re-arm, share intelligence, have freedom of action and free passage for infiltration and terror attacks in Rwanda. Since July 2013 to date, 42 FDLR infiltrators/terror elements have been arrested and undergoing prosecution in Rwandan courts;

Current evidence ?

* Mobilization, recruitment, training and establishment of terror networks in Rwanda. These activities are facilitated by provision of safe passage and logistics by FARDC;

Current evidence ?

* The recent claim by Monusco that FDLR is located in populated areas is a sheer lie; instead the outfit has most of its forward units in Virunga National Park in North Kivu Province. It also maintains its dispositions in unpopulated areas of Mwenga and Uvira Territories in South Kivu; and

The only claim I have seen along these lines is that the FDLR are in the field with families and that makes them a difficult target if you are trying to avoid killing non combatants.

* On Illegal mining and taxation in eastern DRC to sustain the war effort.

Well given Rwanda's expertise in this area I won't argue with him.

Madam President,

I would like to discuss a different issue of M23 Ex-Combatants; while the SG report suggests that consultations on the unresolved issue of these ex- combatants in Rwanda are ongoing; we remind this Council that these combatants have been in Rwanda since March 2013. It is almost a year. 

Really that will come as a surprise everyone. Just in case the Ambassador has forgotten M23 was in the field in the DR Congo until their defeat in November 2013. The lies of Rwanda never cease to amaze me.

The Government of Rwanda has done everything required by international law to contain this group, including relocating them to Ngoma District in Eastern Province approximately 250 Km from the DRC border, but despite our repeated calls for international community to take over responsibility, not much has been done.   There were some contacts that were initiated in December but its really not that much.

That is actually funny. Rwanda want the international community to take over responsibility for M23. I agree with the call. Lets start with investigators from the ICC.

On the report of the PSC Framework, I will not dwell much on that since the implementation of the PSCA will be discussed on 27th of this month in Nairobi.

To conclude, as we have said previously, next month marks the 20th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi and there could be no greater symbol of justice for its victims than the defeat and eradication of FDLR, a virulent genocidal force that has been allowed to terrorize the region for the past two decades.

With that statement I agree and this blog has always taken that position, however I will not characterise the genocide as against the Tutsi. It was a Rwandan genocide and many non Tutsi died.

I thank you Madam President.

DR Congo: Batshit Crazy in Nairobi

Congo signs peace deal with M23 rebels in Nairobi

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has signed a peace deal with M23 rebels in Nairobi. The deal seeks to end an insurgency that began in 2012.

In Kenya rather than Uganda. This was signaled yesterday in a press release by the UN although I had no idea that it was going to happen in Nairobi.

" After a failure last month between the M23 and the Government to sign an official political agreement, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Mary Robinson, said it is hoped that the document will be cosigned tomorrow by Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Malawi's Joyce Banda, who is also the chairperson for the Southern African Development Community (SADC)."

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and M23 rebels signed declarations Thursday to end the bitter conflict in the east of the country, according to a document from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Malawian President Joyce Banda.

I also have no idea why the DR Congo caved in on this. Clearly there is a significance in shifting the arrangements from Kampala and I guess Museveni was only included due to his chairmanship of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and Banda for similar reasons due to the SADC chairmanship, but the contribution of the Malawi troops in the MONUSCO Intervention ( Africa ) Brigade may have made swallowing this dead rat  a little more palatable for the DR Congo. 

"The DR Congo government and M23 have respectively signed declarations," including the "decision by M23 to end rebellion and transform itself into a legitimate political party," read the document signed Thursday in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

This rates fairly high on my Batshit Crazy index, Peoples Media 24 explains.

" DR Congo government spokesman Lambert Mende told the BBC’s Focus on Africa radio programme that the M23 had signed one document and the government another.

There was no single document that both sides had signed, he said.

The M23 document, signed by its political head Bertrand Bisimwa, confirmed the dissolution of the M23 as an armed group, Mr Mende added.

In the government document, Foreign Minister Raymond Chibanda signalled the government’s determination to work towards the disarmament and demobilisation of M23 combatants and their reintegration into society, he said.

There would be no amnesty for those wanted for war crimes, Mr Mende added."

I am also a bit mystified why Kenya allowed its self to get caught up in all this nonsense, clearly it was a convenient given everyone was there for the 50 anniversary celebrations of Kenyan independence but if both parties have signed different documents then one has to ask why did anyone bother. If  When it all turns to custard I guess Nairobi will have its own version of the  Gleneagles Agreement .

DRC spokesman Lambert Mende said government and M23 leaders had signed three documents at the State House in Nairobi. Provisions of the peace deal include the dissolution of M23 as an armed group, as well as demobilization and a renunciation of violence as a means of pursuing future claims, he said.

So we have three documents; according to the United Nations, Banda and Museveni signed one set, we appear to have photographic evidence to back this up.  

Presidents Banda ( Malawi ) and Museveni ( Uganda ) signing something. Thanks to BK Kumbi for finding the photo. 

Then we have Bertrand Bisimwa signing something that that says M23 is finished as a military force, something I would have thought was fairly self evident.  At the same time the government of the DR Congo is signing a third set of papers that seem to bear no relationship with the previous two sets of documents and making matters even worse this is all just speculation on my part as I have not been able to track down the text of any of the documents.

Ann Garrison a couple of days ago speculated. 

 " The agreement proposed between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as the DRC, and the M23 militia backed by Rwanda and Uganda appears to have been re-labeled a "Declaration" to satisfy critics who have said that the DRC should not sign any contractual agreement with a militia that it has defeated. However, the text makes it clear that this is still a contractual agreement to be signed between M23 and the government of the DRC, and that it is a contract to ensure the ongoing occupation of the eastern Congo, of its Kivu Provinces, by M23’s backers, Uganda and Rwanda. Article 10 of the proposed agreement reads, quote:

 

“The government [meaning the DRC] reaffirms its determination to finalize the implementation of the commitments that have been made under the agreement of March 23, 2009, signed with the CNDP.” Unquote.

 

This is a shocking stipulation to ask the DRC government to agree to, because, the March 23, 2009 agreement was a de facto surrender of territory to Rwanda and Uganda’s CNDP militia, and its disastrous consequences were detailed in the 2009 UN Group of Experts Report on the DRC. "

Clearly this isn't the case either. In the end I think we can put this down to a face saving exercise  for all involved. That however doesn't make it any less batshit crazy. 

DR Congo: Two crossed dead Frenchmen, emblazoned on a mound of dead Frenchmen

Chimp Reports ( Uganda ) reports

France Moves To Preserve Influence, Fuels Insecurity In Great Lakes

By Diana S. Katabarwa 

                                                                                                  Herve Ladsous
When the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2098 on 28th March 2013, for an offensive force to neutralize and disarm Congolese as well as foreign rebel groups in East DRC, this presented France with an opportunity to take decisive measures to safeguard its political and economic interests as well as cultural influence in the Great Lakes region. 

I think Diana S. Katabarwa might be insane. The French contribution to this " offensive force " that is the Intervention ( Africa ) Brigade is of course so extensive that they have no troops involved, no military advisors involved, in fact nothing at all, other than a seat on the UN Security Council that authorised the Intervention Brigade. The question then becomes how did those devious French cheese eaters manage to manipulate the UN security council into such an action ? 

The French were subtle so incredibly subtle the world missed their diplomatic play totally, no where will you find it reported that the French somehow manipulated International Conference for the Great Lakes Region into demanding that an intervention force be deployed in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

" The ICGLR summit asked the rebels to withdraw from “current positions to the ground of tactical importance not less than 20km from Goma town within 2 days (from Saturday).”

The Kampala summit also resolved that a composite force comprising one company of a proposed neutral force, one company of Congolese army (FARDC) and one company of M23 be deployed at Goma airport, and also asked the UN Stabilisation Mission in Congo (Monusco) to “occupy and provide security in the neutral zone between Goma and the new areas occupied by M23”."

How did the French know at this early point before even the ICGLR asked for the Intervention Brigade to come under the auspices of the UN and be integrated into the MONUSCO command structure that here was their opportunity to recolonise Africa ? Even better those subtle French, managed to get Uganda and Rwanda to propose what was eventually to become the Brigade . 

French policy in the Great Lakes has always been ‘the end justifies the means’ which explains why in 1994 France continued to support the Rwandan army even as the genocide unfolded and bodies were piling on streets, in churches and stadiums.

France was not oblivious to what was going on at that time but regarded its support for the genocidal regime as a necessity to stop the advance of the English speaking Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) ‘’invaders’’ from overrunning what France considered as its territory and posing a threat to French influence, language and culture.

OK  Time for a quick history lesson. Germany colonised Rwanda in 1884 followed by Belgium in 1916 and Rwanda achieved independence in 1962. Now I might be a bit dim but I had no idea that both Germany and Belgium were actually part of France during the colonial period. I also was unaware that post 1962 the Rwandan state seeded authority to France. Or let me put it another way, Katabarwa is talking shit.

The French and Anglo Saxon rivalry for influence in post-colonial Africa coupled with France’s delusions of grandeur drove France to prop up a regime that massacred one million people in Rwanda in 1994.

Quite a few. The whole bloody world was guilty of looking the other way during the Rwandan Genocide. There is no excuse for it but lets not make it Frances exclusive responsibility. Abdicating our responsibility means it can happen again, and we only need to look across the Rwandan border to see the evidence of that.  

This rivalry for influence recently came to a head again in North Kivu Province of East DRC where France in the guise of MONUSCO took decisive measures to protect its interests.

What rivalry ? The Anglos Saxons to use an antiquated term are not really interested. 

After M23’s withdrawal from Goma in December 2012, despite the presence of MONUSCO on ground, Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), Mayi Mayi Shetani militias and Janvier Karairi’s militias moved into positions in and around Goma, Mudja, Rusayo, Kanyati, Ishasha, Nyamilima, Kisharu and Vishumbi to reinforce the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).

This development did not go unnoticed by the locals but for some reason received no mention whatsoever from the international media, human rights groups or NGOs on ground.

Actually I suspect it did go unnoticed by the locals I sure as hell didn't see any evidence of that. 

In April 2013 the UN Intervention Brigade arrived in North Kivu accompanied by 30 French military experts. Shortly after, rockets were fired from the FARDC/FDLR controlled area into Rwandan territory.

I have been unable to confirm a French presence. It would seem rather unlikely however I would be less surprised if they were observers. 

FDLR had experienced a new surge in confidence similar to that of 1994 when they cheered as the first French troops arrived in Zone Turquoise which was presumably established to stop the genocide but instead ended up providing safe passage into Zaire for Interahamwe and ex-FAR (former Rwandan army) as they fled from the RPF advance.

If I was part of the FDLR I would be feeling anything but confident. They must know it will be there turn next and unlike M23 they have no where to run.

On 30 July MONUSCO gave “negative elements’’ (read M23) 48 hours to disarm. Following the ultimatum, out of over 25 armed groups in East DRC, M23 was singled out and attacked by the joint forces of the UN Intervention Brigade, FARDC and FDLR.

So M23 were unaware that despite bombing Goma and Rwandan territory they were going to be attacked. That is worth a Darwin award.

Belgian Foreign Minister Reynders visited Joseph Kabila on 22nd August 2013 and advised the DRC government not to integrate the M23 into the national army 

Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) that had only a few weeks earlier sent over 60,000 Congolese fleeing into Uganda was of no immediate concern to the UN Brigade. Neither was FDLR that has terrorized Eastern DRC for the last 18 years. 

" Immediate " is the operative word. Rwandan troops massing on the border. M23 firing into Rwandan territory in an attempt to start a full scale war. I wasn't in the least surprised.

The 48 hour ultimatum and attack on M23 was the method employed by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations to thwart UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Mary Robinson and US Secretary of State John Kerry’s preference for a political resolution to the conflict which if attained would give the Anglo Saxons an upper hand in East DRC. France regards the DRC as its territory. 

Really. This is getting a bit hysterical. I am assuming the author wants an Anglo Saxon influence.

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations is headed by Herve Ladsous who was deputy head of the French UN Mission in 1994. He defended the Habyarimana regime prior to the genocide and after the genocide he was instrumental in organizing for the establishment of Zone Turquoise which provided an escape route for the mass murderers. 

Eighteen years later, Harve Ladsous is once again in position to influence decisions at the UN regarding security matters in the Great Lakes region and to take measures to safeguard France’s influence and interests. France has perfected the art of presenting its interests disguised as solutions to local problems, the most recent such ‘’solution’’ being to neutralize the M23.

Yes.... Frances greatest foreign policy goal isn't the Central African Republic where it was the colonial power it is M23's elimination. Delusions of grandeur ? 

" KAMPALA (Reuters) - South African soldiers gathered in Uganda on Thursday for a "new mission" to the Central African Republic (CAR), where 13 of their comrades were killed in a rebel coup at the weekend, South African media and a senior Ugandan officer said.

"The intention of the South Africans is to reorganize themselves and then redeploy massively in CAR and topple these rebels. They were humiliated and they want to avenge," the officer told Reuters, asking not to be named."

The South African Army deployed to CAR to prevent a rebel takeover. They did so when it became apparent that France was not interested in any intervention other than the protection of French interests and citizens.

Harve Ladsous, current Chief of UN Peacekeeping operations defended Habyarimana’s government in 1994 

The idea of a strong and organized local force emerging with the potential to stem the exploitation of Congolese resources that has been going on for decades is not in the interests of Belgium and France who have been beneficiaries from colonial times to the present day.


Those bloody Belgians.

DR Congo: Dr Antoinette Kankindi is an idiot

Congo DRC News reports ( This is a M23 site )


BAD FAITH FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

                                     MONUSCO UN Peacekeepers In congo In in action.Are This ( sic ) guys peace keepers really?

By Dr Antoinette KANKINDI (Mushakipager)

So Kinshasa and M23 went to Kampala, and we know as a fact of experience that Kinshasa is not about to negotiate. And we also know where the stubbornness is coming from: Kabila’s support from the so called international community. This is no speculation. We do not need to speculate anymore from the moment we saw the UN forces fighting M23 with the FDLR. Ladsous saw in that the best way of defeating M23. However, we also know M23 was not defeated since they retreated freely to allow CIGRL to push for political solutions. Now one wonders why, if we need political solutions, it is not the UN department for Political Affairs that takes the lead. When it comes to the Kivu, you wouldn’t even know that that department exists due to the huge activism and presence of Mr. Ladsous department. This is France at its best, changing definitively the narrative on the Kivu political problems: they want them to appear as Rwandan problems, and in so doing, exonerate Kinshasa of any responsibility as well as giving themselves to pick a fight with Rwanda using the genocidaires. This discourse will be sung again at the UN general assembly this year.

 

Well my first reaction is that Dr Antoinette Kankindi is an idiot if she thinks she can get away with this sort of historical revisionism when the events she refers to are still fresh in the memories of those involved. 

Both M23 and Kinshasa went the Kampala talks with anything but good faith, both had an hidden unspoken agenda. Kinshasa went for the sake of appearances and M23 to buy time for Rwanda to reinforce them with both weapons and personnel. 

It isn't so much that the International Community supports Kinshasa rather the International Community is sick to the death of Rwandan support for M23, Rwandan lies and infact the Rwandan regime. MONUSCO and the Intervention Brigade ( Africa Brigade ) have as part of their updated mandate, the suppression of armed groups and to protect the territorial integrity of the DR Congo. M23 clearly fits into the category of an armed group and there can be no doubt it is a huge threat to the territorial integrity of the DR Congo. 

As for the statement M23 " retreated freely to allow CIGRL to push for political solutions." they didn't, they were routed, we also seem to have a bit of a problem with the timing. President Museveni called the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region ( ICGLR ) around September 1, the annihilation of M23 preceded this by a good week, it was infact one of the main reasons for calling the emergency meeting of ICGLR. I think we can safely call bullshit on that particular attempt to rewrite history by Antoinette Kankindi. 

It is funny how the international community suddenly becomes just France. I think that that rather overstates French hegemony. Could I suggest the author removes her head from her arse and checks out the US State Department's position. 

On the other hand, I am not interested in it really. I was even shocked to hear that M23 would be willing to disarm if FDLR are also disarmed.  Absurd, because for one the political problems of the Kivu imply the FDLR too, but they are first and foremost a problem of development, which the FDLR have made worse with the increase of IDPs to add to refugees and the looting of local resources, for example. So, of course FDLR are absolutely unacceptable. But even if they were to be disarmed, our local political problems will still stand. And they are the same in Kamina or Isiro, Mbanza-ngungu or Mwene Ditu, Kalemie or Lisala, etc…The bad faith of the international community I want to deal with is that they have tried hard to transform the conflict, only to avoid what they fear most: that the Kivu seeks its own autonomy. And mind you I know the usual voices will accuse me of balkanization inclinations, haha. Autonomy does not mean total independence, a clarification for people with narrow views on political action.

As I mentioned above the extended mandate of MONUSCO is quite unequivocal it requires the suppression of all armed groups and that includes the FDLR. Reading this rubbish one could be forgiven for thinking that M23 have not created one refugee or one Internally Displaced Person. It is of course yet another lie. M23 have displaced hundreds of thousands of people and created thousands of refugees.

Autonomy means in the M23 context either a client state of Rwanda or the Rwandan annexation of the DR Congo's eastern provinces. The International Community does not support this and the people of the Eastern DR Congo don't either. The only way that Rwandan ambitions in the DR Congo could be realised is by a plebiscite of the community and an unequivocal vote to support such a development. That is never going to happen. Democracy means having the support of the majority. "...a clarification for people with narrow views on political action."

 

However, our people should understand two things: 1) that the solution to our problems starts from that autonomy; 2) That such autonomy simply means that participatory political action works better from the local level, so does production which creates economic growth. We must all understand this and it is valid not only for the provinces in the DRC but for the whole of sub-saharan Africa. Local politically well structured governance also limits the levels of corruption as it is likely to respond to the needs of the people rather than power politics. It is for these two reasons that I am convinced of the need to keep the DRC as a country but with a greater autonomy of each of its provinces, beginning from the Kivu that never tire to fight for the freedom of our people. But then this will require more transparency  even on the part of the International Community in its dealing with a country endowed with strong local politics and strong local economy. For the starters, the zillion of NGOs such IC promotes will be the first casualties,  next the whole cooperation discourse will need a redefining. How can our vultures of the IC allow that? You understand why they are obsessed with portraying the DRC problems as Rwandan??? We will be observing what is “NOT” happening in Kampala.

Ok autonomy does not mean " total independence " but it does mean " participatory political action at a local level. "  Fortunately  Charly Kasereka reported on some autonomy recently in Goma, my best efforts at translating it from French are here. It would seem that the participatory political action at a local level was fairly much united by a desire to see M23 stopped permanently. In fact if anything it was a call for the government to engage more not for further disengagement. As for the economic growth argument again Chary Kasereka gives us a few helpful observations on the M23 autonomists contribution to the economy of Goma. 

Currently, there is not much for sale in the Goma markets, and everything has become very expensive: corn, green beans, milk, all basic food products… Before, a 100 kg bag of cassava cost between 25 to 30 US dollars; today, this amount costs in the 45 to 50 dollar range [35 to 40 euros]. And, for instance, a kg of green beans, which used to cost half a dollar, now costs almost a full dollar [0,80 euros]. These basic food products have nearly doubled in price! In a city where the population is already very poor...."

"...When the rebels took Rutshuru in early July, the M23 rebels put up numerous roadblocks and now undertake lengthy inspections of each trucks’ contents. On his last trip, he was taxed about 350 dollars [285 euros] for his cassava cargo. Before the rebels came, he used to pay at most only 50 dollars [40 euros] in taxes. ..."

In other words the woman is an economic ignoramus " strong local politics and strong local economy " I really haven't got a clue what she is talking about but the economy of Goma is totally reliant on the " zillions of NGO's " I am guessing here but it sounds like they are the vultures she is referring to guys like Médecins Sans Frontières who are working there butts of to provide medical services unlike those saints of M23 who are raping and killing at the behest of Dr Antoinette Kankindi. Finally yes I do understand why the International Community are portraying the problem as the fault of Rwanda and Rwanda can fix that very quickly by stopping interfering in the eastern DR Congo.