Rwanda: America acts and one has to ask why they bothered ?

New Vision ( Uganda ) reports

Kagame slams US sanctions over child soldiers

KIGALI - Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Friday angrily condemned a US decision to impose sanctions against his country for allegedly backing rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo who recruit child soldiers.

Kagame said the decision would only play into the hands of other rebels made up of remnants of Hutu extremists who carried out the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

It won't, the Hutu extremists he refers to are the FDLR and they will shortly have more than enough on their plate as the MONUSCO Intervention (African) Brigade along with the Congolese Army ( FARDC ) turns their attention not to mention guns in the FDLR direction. 

"It benefits those enemies of our country who seek to destroy what we are trying to build," Kagame said in a speech to parliament.

Kagame is to a large degree reaping the consequences of his own stupidity, his obvious support for M23 along with the constant lies denying that support pissed off the international community to a point that America could no longer do business with Rwanda. Kigame might do well to reflect upon the fact that it has been quite some time since Bill Clinton ran the White House.

The United Nations accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels in neighbouring eastern DR Congo, a charge the country has adamantly denied.

The evidence of Rwandan support for M23 is overwhelming and Kagame's denials have been such obvious lies that his administration junta now faces the problem that the world has stopped listening to Rwanda. Yesterday Goma blogger and journalist Charly Kasereka provided more from the hills where the M23 movement failed and collapsed after being defeated by FARDC.

                           A Congolese soldier shows a military index of the Rwandan army found on the hill ( Photo Charly Kasereka )  

On Thursday, Washington said it was invoking the 2008 Child Soldiers Protection Act to end US financial and military assistance to Rwanda.

As usual America has fucked it up. This blog has predicted the defeat of M23 for weeks and it became apparent late last month that M23 was finished, that America has imposed comprehensive sanctions on Rwanda for supporting M23 after M23 has been defeated speaks volumes for American policy towards the region. Generally speaking sanctions are applied to alter behaviour rather than as a punishment and by this test the American action is now pointless.      

But Kagame said the sanctions "benefit the people that throw grenades here in Kigali and killed our children", referring to recent attacks in the capital carried out in the run-up to parliamentary elections last month.

Kagame is again talking crap. News of Rwanda reports.

" One of the suspects who manned the recent grenade attack at Nyabugogo Taxi Park in Kigali, has said that he and his colleagues were sent on a mission by their boss, Colonel Enoch Bizimana alias ‘Matovu’ who commands a section of FDLR rebel in the DR Congo.

The 23 year old suspect, identified as Jean de Dieu Ntakirutimana, who left Rwanda at the age of 4 years, says that he joined and deserted FDLR forces and was later on contacted by the Colonel, through a third party, to conduct the attacks for a price.

“The rebel commanders assured that if we continue throwing the grenades in Kigali, just like others had done, we will be rewarded heavily once the rebels take power.. They actually assured us that the Kigali government will be overthrown this year” Ntakirutimana narrated to the media.

Ntakirutimana also pleaded guilty of the Nyabogogo grenade attacks and said he was not forced to do it but was paid 20 US dollars to do the job. “That money is a lot if you are a rebel in Congo” he noted."

A stupid mixed up kid, how he will benefit from the American sanctions is beyond me.

"They don't care about our children," he said, lashing out at "those murderers who live in the DRC (and) in South Africa" -- a reference to exiled Hutu extremists linked to the 1994 genocide as well as other opponents.

The truth is the FDLR don't care about anything other than killing, the mission that Ntakirutimana was sent on is evidence that Colonel Enoch Bizimana couldn't give a toss about him. 

The M23 rebel group was founded by former Tutsi rebels who were incorporated into the Congolese army under a 2009 peace deal but who turned their guns on their former comrades in 2012.

Kagame's government, also dominated by Tutsis, is accused of backing the rebels as part of a proxy war against Hutu rebels in the DRC and to seek influence in the country's mineral-rich eastern Kivu region.

Kagame repeated denials of covert support for the M23, and described the sanctions as an "insult".

"I don't understand why Rwanda is treated... with such injustice," he said. "Rwanda is going to be judged and held accountable for the mistakes made by others."

Rwanda is being held accountable for mistakes deliberate acts of insurrection in the DR Congo that have displaced and killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people. The lies of Kagame have caught up with him and his murderous regime. Will the American sanctions make a blind bit of difference ? Probably not, they may in fact cause further intransigence on the part of Kagame the irony being that the sanctions have been imposed after Kagame and by extension Rwanda exercised a degree of constraint in the final days of the M23 rebellion.

DR Congo: M23 are running out of options, time and space.

Chimp Report reports

INSIDE STORY: Why DRC, M23 Peace Deal Delayed


The rebel M23 Movement has yet again fallen short of reaching an agreement with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on “key security issues,” delaying the signing of a comprehensive peace deal.

                                                                         M23 military leader, Sultani Makenga

By Giles Muhame

Chimpreports on Saturday afternoon broke the news that M23 had made “major concessions on its political grievances in order to make possible the signing of the peace agreement in the coming hours.” 

“We are announcing to both national and international community that under the mediation of President Yoweri Museveni, major breakthroughs are about to be obtained in Kampala,” said the M23 political leader, Bertrand Bisiimwa, on Saturday.

However, this investigative website understands that a press conference which had been called to announce the signing of the peace agreement was called off at the last minute after DRC and M23 failed to agree on security of the militants after their disarmament. 

I was hugely sceptical of the original report which I blogged here, if for no other reason (and there were many ) than the comments made by the DR Congo Minister Mende.

Lambert Mende, a minister and Congolese government spokesman, was more circumspect, telling AFP that "breakthroughs will be measured against the final agreement," if one were signed.
"There has been some reconciliation," Mende said in Kinshasa, but stressed that although the M23 could "sign today", that would "not be the end of the problem."

“The DRC refused to guarantee security of M23 fighters after laying down their weapons. Much as they are ready to disarm, these combatants need to be assured of security during and after integration in the mainstream forces,” said a knowledgeable source who is part of the peace talks in Kampala. 

It should be remembered that a few months before the M23 rebellion, DRC forces reportedly massacred 50 CNDP soldiers after being transferred to Ddungu. 

This actually isn't the real issue, the issue is that most if not all of the senior leadership of M23 will not be integrated into the Congolese army and many of them will probably face war crimes and crimes against humanity charges. Jason Stearns at Congo Siasa points out;

" At the end, however, everything hinged, unsurprisingly, on the fate of the top M23 leadership. Since the beginning, this had been the main stumbling block. It is practically unconceivable for commanders such as Sultani Makenga and Innocent Kaina––both listed on the UN and US sanctions lists and candidates for war crimes charges––to be reintegrated into the Congolese army."

The Congolese Government has been quite firm on the issue of both war crimes and crimes against humanity.

" The negotiations in Kampala had reportedly stumbled over the question of an amnesty for the rebels and their reintegration in the army. Backed by the international community, the government in Kinshasa has said there will be no impunity for the main rebel leaders."

That leaves virtually no wriggle room for the negotiators on either side to work with. My opinion is that this is intentional on the part of Kinshasa  however that is clearly not a viewpoint that is shared by all. Again Jason Stearns from Congo Siasa.

" There is still hope for a deal, although the Congolese main negotiators will be in Kinshasa for some time now, with only a skeleton crew left in Kampala. The next step will probably be for regional powers to discuss the M23 at a joint ICGLR/SADC summit, to take place in South Africa in early November."

I just don't see it. From the Kinshasa perspective no deal is a win if they can back that up on the ground with military force. There will be no tears shed in the eastern DR Congo for M23 infact its demise I suspect will be a matter of jubilation. Against that is of course Rwanda and whether they will react in support of M23 or decide it is better to cut their losses this time and move on.

This was one of the reasons why CNDP militants, who had been integrated in the army following the 2009 peace deal, refused deployment to other parts of DRC thus touching off the 2012 insurrection. 

After breaking ranks with DRC, CNDP would later change their name to M23. Sources said such distressing memories have emboldened the M23 peace delegation, led by Rene Abandi, to press for solid security guarantees from DRC for the Movement fighters before he could pen his signature on the peace agreement.

 

That largely ignores the role of Rwanda and to a lesser degree Uganda both who have been to varying degrees active supporters of M23 and it would be inconceivable to suppose that the major issue was only " redeployment " and that leaves from Kinshasa's point of view the major issue unresolved. 

" The United Nations regularly accuses Rwanda and Uganda of supporting the M23, something both countries deny.

Mende affirmed that Rwanda had a key role in the outcome of rebels' future in the country, and said "the principal player could always restart this crisis. It is Rwanda's attitude that is the deciding factor."

By Sunday morning, Abandi, top DRC government bureaucrats and UN officials were still holed up in meetings at Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo, to find ways of securing a major breakthrough. 

The rebel group waged war in 2012, protesting Kinshasha’s gross abuse of human rights, discrimination and entrenched corruption in the army, absence of basic social services in Kivu and government’s failure to facilitate the Return of Congolese refugees from neighbouring countries.

What next ? Jason Stearns concludes. 

" This time, if reports from within the UN peacekeeping mission are accurate, the Intervention Brigade may be willing to push further north against the M23, using military pressure to push the M23 and its allies toward a peace deal. Of course, that’s a risky gamble, as a failed offensive could humiliate the UN and embolden the M23 at the negotiation table. "

I doubt that there is any thought of pushing M23 back to the negotiating table from the perspective of the Congolese Government, I think that they would prefer a military solution and I rather suspect MONUSCO and the Intervention Brigade are in a mood to play ball. 

DR Congo: M23 The comedians of the Congo ?

Chimp Reports ( Uganda ) reports

M23 Warn DRC Army

In what appears as the latest escalation of tensions in Eastern Congo, the rebel M23 Movement has given the DRC government an ultimatum of 48 hours to vacate their strategic stronghold Southern town of Kanyamahoro, Chimp Corps reports.

                                                                   Abandi addressing in Kampala on Tuesday

By Giles Muhame & Badru Afunadula 15/10/2013 18:01:00

Located about 30 kilometers from the Provincial town of Goma, the area was seized at around 2am Tuesday in a surprise DRC army (FARDC) offensive.

I am astonished that M23 were surprised by this attack. The only surprise has been the amount of time it has taken FARDC ( The DR Congo Army ) to go back on the offensive.

In a press conference held at Silver Springs Hotel in Kampala on Tuesday evening, the leader of M23 peace delegation to Kampala, Rene Abandi, said the attack was “totally unacceptable” and a “crime against peace.”

You have to hand it to M23, when it comes to batshit crazy there are not many who do it quite as well. M23 have rebelled against a legitimate internationally recognised government, they have committed acts of war against that government and seem to think that despite all this they are some how immune to retaliation. I would have thought it might have dawned on even the dimmest of them that there is no way out for them now other than unconditional surrender.  

He added: “We have stopped direct contact with the government of DRC on this issue. We shall from now onwards be passing our messages through the facilitator of the peace talks (Uganda Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga).”

I must say I am starting to feel a bit sorry for Minister Kiyonga. He seems to be a reasonably competent sensible man, he must know that the peace talks are a farce and I am sure that there are many other issues he would rather focus on other than this circus in Kampala.

The eyebrow-raising statement is likely to raises fears of a possible military confrontation between the rebels and the DRC army with its allied forces..

What ? I think that we might be looking at the aftermath of the latest confrontation between M23 and FARDC. This conflict will not stop until M23 have been destroyed. That should be very clear to all the actors involved. If M23 wish to play the ostrich so be it.

  

Abandi said Kamahoro, which is not very far from the frontline, was the last M23 stronghold in the Southern region.

Asked whether the rebel Movement responded to the attack, Abandi observed: “The military wing of M23 received orders not to retaliate to the ground attack.

That is actually a bit of a surprise I would have thought M23 would have been in a position to have a fight over this. There have been rumours of reinforcement from Rwanda for some time now. It may be that M23 are in worse shape than was thought. One lives in hope.

“We still believe in the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Eastern Congo.”

This situation is beyond a peaceful resolution that involves anything other than surrender with the M23 leadership joining Bosco Nataganda at the ICC.

Abandi further said the attack underscored DRC’s “barbaric attitude” at a time when “we had started building trust” in the peace process.

That has to be one of the most unintentionally funny as well as stupid statements that M23 has made in some time.

He further blasted the string of NGOs in Goma and other parts of DRC for “peddling falsehoods to tarnish the image of the M23,” adding the organizations serve the interests of their sponsors.

That is actually true. It is in everyone's interests ( other than Rwanda and M23's obviously ) that M23 is neutralised and that the people of the eastern DR Congo can get back to living normal lives without the threat of murder, rape and the other myriad of crimes against humanity that M23 and Rwanda have perpetuated on the population of the region.

Pressed to explain how the rebel Movement would deal with future attacks by DRC, Abandi answered: “We shall defend ourselves. We cannot allow them to continue attacking us and putting the safety of civilians at risk. We shall be obliged to respond.”

In which case they will die and while that will be no great loss it would be better for all if M23 found some small tenuous grip on reality, the risk to the civilian population is real. 

Responding to a question from a journalist on why M23 shot at the UN chopper on October 12, Abandi apologized for the incident but quickly attributed the blame to the international body which “continuously allows FARDC to use their planes for espionage activities and dropping DRC soldiers near M23 territory.”

What a load of shit. Abandi seems to have forgotten the expanded mandate of the MONUSCO Intervention ( Africa ) Brigade.

He said one of the planes that recently violated the M23 territory’s airspace was carrying President Joseph Kabila’s spy chiefs.

Abandi also revealed that FARDC and UN were mixing their emblems on planes, giving the rebel group difficulty in distinguishing the DRC forces from humanitarian elements.

M23 have never allowed humanitarian concerns to affect their activities to date so this is ringing a little hollow.

UPDATE

Democratic Republic of Congo rebel group M23 has announced suspension of talks with the Congolese government over the next 48 hours following an attack on its positions in the east of the country.

Rene Abandi, head of the M23 delegation at the Ugandan mediated talks in Kampala, told reporters on Tuesday that Congolese government forces and a Rwandan rebel group attacked M23 positions at Kamahoro, about 20 km from the North Kivu provincial capital Goma, killing one combatant and injuring two others.

"From this [moment], we have stopped direct contact [with the government side]. We shall not talk through the mediation until they withdraw from that position. We shall not continue to talk and fight at the same time," Mr Abandi said.

"We require the government to withdraw from that position (Kamahoro) within 48 hours. We think it's our right to have clarification whether the government wants dialogue or war."

Mr Abandi warned that the M23 would respond accordingly should the Congolese troops fail to withdraw from Kamahoro within the given deadline.

"If they continue to attack us, we don't have any other choice but to defend our position. For sure we shall act, we shall be obliged to respond to protect ourselves and the population. We can't just leave our people to be killed," he said.

Mr Abandi repeated his group's earlier calls for North Kivu province to be declared a disaster zone in order to attract international assistance. (Xinhua)

DR Congo: Rebels in the Orientale province

The UN News Centre reports

80,000 people displaced by fresh fighting in DR Congo over past month

Displaced people in Orientale province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) receiving food aid. Photo: UNOCHA/Y. Edoumou

18 September 2013 – Some 80,000 people have been driven from their homes in a new outbreak of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over the past month following repeated clashes between the national army and rebels, the United Nations reported today.

Henning Tamm at Congo Siasa blogs about the Ituri rebel groups that mid last year formed the COGAI  ( Coalition des Groupes Armés de l’Ituri).

COGAI officially consists of four groups: the FRPI; the Front Populaire pour le Développement Durable de l’Ituri (FPDDI); the Force Armée pour la Révolution (FAR); and the Forces Armées d’Intégration de l’Ituri (FAII). COGAI’s founding document suggests that “Col. Hitler” leads the FPDDI, as the creation of this rebel platform is said to have taken place “under the watchful eye of General Cobra Matata and Colonel Hitler.” The FAII is headed by “Col.” Charité Semire, his co-signatory is “Lt. Col.” Saidi Cedrick. Amos Lopa and Blaise Ngbathema signed for the FAR. The coalition’s spokesperson is John Mpigwa (FPDDI).

Who are these groups and their leaders? Apart from Cobra’s FRPI, none of these groups and individuals is well-known. The most significant characteristic of their coalition is that it is multi-ethnic: Mpigwa, “Hitler,” and Semire, for instance, are all Hema; the latter two are former UPC combatants. Although Ituri’s “war within a war,” which began in mid-1999, initially pitted Hema and Lendu against each other, rebel alliances that cross ethnic boundaries are not a new phenomenon. Since the conflict shifted to a struggle between the central government and the UN peacekeeping mission versus rebel remnants around 2005, there have been several such coalitions, e.g., the Mouvement Révolutionnaire Congolais (MRC) between 2005-7 and the Front Populaire pour la Justice au Congo (FPJC) between 2008-2010.

“Cases of rape, kidnappings and other abuses by armed men have been reported,” the spokesperson for the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), Madnodje Mounoubai, told a briefing, warning that the population was living in precarious conditions.

General Cobra Matata was going to integrate his fighters into FARDC but withdrew from the deal late last year. I am guessing that the armed men are part of this organisation.  
“Entire villages have been emptied of their populations. Many of those displaced, fearing violence from the belligerents, are believed to still be in the forests in inaccessible areas,” he said, stressing that humanitarian organizations were very concerned with the situation in the Ituri region of Orientale Province where the national army and the Front patriotique de l’Ituri (FRPI) - the Ituri Patriotic Front – have repeatedly clashed since August 22.

This situation needs to be brought under control quickly. FARDC simply are not up to the task of suppressing the situation here and in the Kivus for an extended period if their performance in Goma before the Intervention ( Africa ) Brigade and the 3 reconstituted  foreign trained FARDC brigades arrived.   

The new outbreak of violence is to the north of the Goma region, where a MONUSCO unit has been helping the national army battle another rebel group, the M23, in North Kivu Province which has seen little respite from fighting since UN peacekeepers helped bring relative stability and elections to much of the rest of the vast country over the past decade following vicious civil wars.

I would expect a flare up soon in the Goma region. The M23 leadership have probably reached the conclusion that the peace talks in Kampala are not going to go their way. It should also be remembered that Rwanda has called up a lot of units to the DR Congo Rwanda border although I doubt Kagame will be stupid enough to invade he is certain to be providing support to M23.  

Mr. Mounoubai said 120,000 people in all have been affected by the violence in the Irumu region of Ituri through the destruction of homes and the looting of property. Sporadic fighting between the army and the FPRI had broken out most recently over the past weekend with both sides using heavy machine guns, mortars and rocket launchers.

Over the past year the fighting with the M23 in the Goma region has displaced more than 100,000 people, exacerbating an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region which already includes 2.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) driven from their homes in clashes with other rebel groups and 6.4 million in need of food and emergency aid.

The potential for another humanitarian catastrophe is very real.