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Uganda Can't Afford Another DRC War

The Monitor (Kampala)
EDITORIAL
June 22, 2004
Posted to the web June 21, 2004
Kampala
A DR. Congolese renegade General, Laurent Nkunda has been in Uganda recently,
ostensibly to drum up our government's support for his ethnic-based fighting
force in the east of his country.
Nkunda alleges that government forces have been targeting ethnic Banyamulenge
in Bukavu, an area his forces recently briefly took over. At the same time the
government in Kinshasa maintains that the Bukavu conundrum is partly fall-out
from the alleged covert activities of the Rwanda Defence Forces. Naturally,
Kigali flatly denies that it has been active in the DRC.
Uganda must be very careful about how it responds to Nkunda's request if we are
to avoid getting sucked into what may very easily deteriorate into another war
in the Congo. Uganda must especially frown upon the idea of contributing troops
to help "pacify" the fluid east as is being suggested in some quarters.
The solution to Bukavu lies in he UN monitoring team, Monuc, being strengthened
so that it can carry out actual on the ground control of belligerents. At the
very best, Uganda may provide moral backing to talks aimed at resolving the
outstanding issues that Bukavu presents.
Our leaders must take this line because Uganda's most recent involvement with
that country's problems resulted in us getting sued in the International Court
of Justice for robbery. Uganda's army has also been accused of committing gross
crimes against humanity in areas where it operated. Thirdly, and most
importantly, we simply cannot afford another military adventure.
On the other hand, President Laurent Kabila Jr has to show that he is in
control his country by acting decisively on allegations of ethnic cleansing. He
should reject the ambivalent attitude his late Dad, Kabila Sr adopted towards
the Banyamulenge crisis - an indecisiveness that may have contributed to his
short-lived presidency and ultimate sacrifice in death.
AU actions in Darfur correct
Mr Alpha Omar Konare, chairman of the African Union Commission is visiting the
strife-torn Darfur region of Sudan to lend support to efforts geared at
implementing a humanitarian ceasefire.
This is an opportunity for the Khartoum government to unequivocally show that
it is not part of the problem in Darfur where an estimated one million have
been displaced from their homes. Sudan has been accused of quietly encouraging
the rampaging janjaweed militia to kill, maim, rape and loot from the black
community living in the western region.
Konare will have a first-hand opportunity to establish the facts of what is
happening in Darfur and should from there be in a position to advise regional
leaders on how to address this issue. If it turns out that the janjaweed are
after-all obtaining support from Khartoum, the chairman will provide the
necessary conduit for invigorated international pressure to force it to stop
such reprehensible behaviour.

   

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