Lalibre Reports: Is it Too Late for Eastern Congo?

Since the spectacular failure of Operation Umoja Wetu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Congolese forces (FARDC) have formed a new military campaign with MONUC. Dubbed Kimia II, the new operation appears headed for the same fate. After the detention of rebel Congolese Tutsi General Laurent Nkunda by the Rwandan military (RDF) in January, Umoja Wetu was intended to eliminate Rwandan Hutu rebels (FDLR), but failed miserably when Rwanda abandoned the operation due to negative public opinion and open, bitter hostility from a Congolese parliament that was in opposition to Congolese President Joseph Kabila's pact with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame.

Lalibre's Marie-France Cros is one of the growing numbers of foreign journalists raising questions and eyebrows regarding the string of colossal military failures in DRC. The irony is complete when one recognizes that "kimia" means "peace" in the local Lingala dialect. Lalibre reports what a minority from Congo have been saying for months-- the military efforts since the removal of CNDP leader Nkunda have resulted in an escalation of the violence. She calls the situation "une région au bord de l'explosion"--a region on the brink of explosion, and asks the logical question that American media has not tackeld: "Mais n'est-ce pas trop tard ?"--But is it too late?

Image: Luofu Burial Copyright ©HRW

Recent events and an ignored report by the independent United Nations' Special Rappateur explained previous failures and predicted the current escalation, but no one in American media appears to be listening. On May 18 Turkish diplomat Baki I`lkin sent the Interim Report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Nations Security Council.

During Umoja Wetu, the FARDC-RDF alliance was able to push back FDLR from some of its key locations, but the military operation suffered from a short timespan, logistical bottlenecks and the reported embezzlement of operational funds, and failed to break the FDLR command and control apparatus, which remains intact. Since the withdrawal of RDF, FDLR has counterattacked in various locations across North and South Kivu, resulting in increased civilian casualties. Delays in the disbursement of FARDC salaries have also exacerbated indiscipline within the newly integrated FARDC units, resulting in ongoing human rights violations perpetrated by FARDC, including looting and attacks on the civilian population.

Kimia II has obviously not fared any better, and the continuing embezzlement of funds resulted in a veritable mutiny of integrated Congolese forces as reported by the BBC.

A senior UN peacekeeper told the BBC that army commanders are not handing over soldiers' wages. The army and UN forces are conducting an offensive in the region against ethnic Hutu rebels many of whom fled to DR Congo after the Rwandan genocide. A UN spokesman told the BBC the situation needed to be dealt with urgently. "There is a risk of a potential disintegration of the Congolese army," he said.

But what is the real objective of Kimia II? In late April, the Special Rappateur reports that control of the rich mining sectors was the ultimate goal and the protection of civilian populations was of secondary concern.

At the end of April 2009, Operation Kimia II was yet to be fully on track. Following the deployment of two senior ex-CNDP officers, General Sultani Makenga and Colonel Claude Mucho, to Bukavu and Kindu, respectively, in March 2009, operational plans were put on hold for logistical reasons. Colonel Mucho's troops had started to move towards Shabunda in South Kivu, although some FARDC officers admitted to the Group that the real objective behind joint operations is to finally take control of mining zones in Walikale. The Group understands from FARDC sources that operations launched by FARDC from Bukavu would be organized in part to clear out FDLR elements from mineral-rich zones in Kalehe.

In addition, the MONUC operated and funded Radio Okapi report on June 23, urged all involved to "avoid the blunders" generated by Umoja Wetu.

In an official press released published yesterday Sunday [21 June],the commander of Operation Kimia Two announced that the FARDC [DRCongo Armed Forces] currently controls nine localities formerly occupied by the FDLR in the territories of Shabunda, Kabare and Walungu. The spokesperson of ex-armed groups in Nord-Kivu said he was pleased with the operations.

However, Didier Bitaki, the spokesperson of ex-armed groups, called for caution. Despite being pleased with the beginning of the operation in Sud-Kivu, he said that those planning the operation should learn from the Nord-Kivu experience to avoid blunders. He made a statement on Monday during the programme Dialogue between Congolese. "My reaction, is one of satisfaction, for the operation to be transposed to Sud-Kivu, despite the continuity of atrocities on the ground in Nord-Kivu.

Meanwhile the "peacekeepers" in MONUC have refused to attack the FDLR, saying that they are present only to support the Congolese army. We received a report yesterday that in the town of Kanyabayonga, the rebel FDLR set fire to 35 houses, forcing the exodus of the entire population. Details are sketchy now, but reports from the ground say that the FARDC and MONUC troops were deployed only 2 kilometers away and did nothing.

Lack of coverage and international outrage aside, the FDLR in collusion with the FARDC have consistently terrorized the civilian population of eastern Congo. There seems to be no end in sight. Indeed it appears to be too late. "Blunders" are no excuse in this great humanitarian tragedy.

Follow Georgianne Nienaber on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nienaber

Comments

[izzi143]

That Umoja Wetu was a "spectacular failure" is false.

The governments of DRC and Rwanda expressed satisfaction with its results and more significantly, their partnership to solve this 15year old problem.

Statements by both armies recognize the FDLR problem is not completely dealt with, but their operation bases were destroyed and their capacity to continue fighting weakened. And many fighters and dependents held hostage in FDLR were able to escape and return to Rwanda.

The undisputed fact is that the one month campaign registered more success than any other initiative, even the UN force there (MONUC) - which is the largest UN force yet shows itself incapable to make any progress in protecting Congolese or neutralizing aggressors. MONUC acknowledged the joint operation's success and it was reported that the local populations welcomed Umoja’s efforts to rid their areas of the FDLR whose trademark is vicious rape, pillage and destruction.

Rwanda didnt abandon the mission - it left when the agreed timeframe expired. A recent UN Security Council mission to Africa congratulated President Paul Kagame of Rwanda on the Umoja Wetu campaign, recognizing it as a milestone in both the r/ship between DRC and Rwanda, but also of African countries working together to solve their problems, especially when it is clear that foreign attempts at intervening have produced no tangible results.

The challenge of Kimia II is to build on the breakthroughs of Umoja .

Readers should question why this author seems keen to misinform them.

[Georgianne Nienaber - Huffpost Blogger]

This message was posted on the LA Progressive which provided IP origination information.

Izzi’s comment originated from the third floor of the Ebene Cyber Tower in “Cyber City,” Mauritius. The organization whose offices “Izzie” was using is the African Network Information Center. Some member countries include Congo, and Rwanda.

AfriNIC is the Internet Registry (RIR) for Africa. The inaugural signing of the NEPAD Broadband ICT Infrastructure Network was held in Kigali, Rwanda on 29 August 2006. The annual report is here: http://www.afrinic.net/annual_report2007.htm

Is this a corporate campaign to discredit legitimate reporting?

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Izzie: “what grounds?"

A. Read the Interim report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and linked in this article. Read the full reports of Human Rights Watch at www.hrw.org. Reports at www.monuc.org detail rapes, burnings, murder....

Izzie: Rwanda did not abandon the mission

A: Read the Interim report of the Group of Experts stating that Rwanda abandoned the timetable.

Izzie: .... build on the breakthroughs...

A: Oxfam in DRC:
“Four months ago an offensive against the FDLR set in train a spiral of violence..." (http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressrelease/2009-05-13/un-backed-military-operation-drc-likely-cause-widespread-suffering)

Izzie: Security Council …congratulated President Paul Kagame

A: The press release of the "success" by the Security Council was in complete contradiction to the UN Special Rappateur's Report which was issued on the same day.

[Georgianne Nienaber - Huffpost Blogger]

This came in on Twitter to me:
saverwanda@nienaber : not it's not too late people just don't want to act; everywhere else in the world War has never been the best move to get peace!

[mamarena]

Thanks for your continued reporting of this, Georgianne. The incompetence of MONUC is infuriating to me, but I refuse to believe that it's too late for Eastern Congo. It can never be too late - too many lives are at stake.

[Georgianne Nienaber - Huffpost Blogger]

Of course I hope you are correct, but the reports seem to get worse day by day ...