By Bahati Ntama Jacques

Updated august 18, 2008

This article first appeared in the July/August issue of Around Africa

Between March and early May, you may remember signing a petition to the U.S. State Department generated by Africa Faith and Justice Network regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)-Rwanda conflict.  On May 23, we submitted the overwhelmingly well-supported petition (more than 1300 signatures) to Ms. Madeline Seidenstricker, DRC desk officer at the State Department, who promised to forward the petition to the Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice through Ms. Jendayi Frazer, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.  AFJN staff returned to the State Department in July to follow up and met with the new desk officer, Mr. Christopher J. Lamora as well as the Rwanda desk officer, Ms. Marlaina R. Casey.  We have also visited numerous Congressional offices, asking your representatives to call or write to Assistant Secretary Frazer in support of the recommendations outlined in the petition.

What was the petition about?

The petition outlined concerns and recommendations calling on the U.S. government to urge the Rwandan government to do more in implementing the ongoing peace talks between the Congolese and Rwandan governments.  What has the Rwandan government done to help pacify the Congo in relation to its demand to repatriate its enemies, the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) who are operating in eastern Congo?  Why is the Rwandan government supporting the Congolese rebel group led by Laurent Nkunda which is responsible for crimes such as looting, killing, rapes, mass murder, displacement and destabilization of the North Kivu province?  Why is the U.S. standing by, watching millions of Congolese die by the hands of a rebel group supported by its ally Rwanda?  Why is the Rwandan government allowing Congolese minerals to be illegally sold in Rwanda to foreign companies by Congolese rebel groups, knowing that these transactions only enable the war to continue?  Why is the U.S. training and equipping the Rwandan army while at the same time mediating peace talks between the two nations knowing that Rwanda provides military equipment to Nkunda?

Posted on July 31, 2008

On July 22, 2008, the Interdepartmental Commission of the Commission of audit and Good Governance of the Democratic Republic of the Congo made public the names of those involved in embezzlement of 1.3 billion US dollars.  Among those named are three financial institutions (DGI, DGRAD, OFIDA) and six public enterprises (ONATRA, OCC, REGIDESO, SNEL, SONAS and RVA).  The government promised to bring to justice individuals and agencies found guilty of this crime.  However, Mr. Rachidi Akida, president of Anticorruption and Fraud League encouraged the government to continue its investigation, bring the criminals to justice and make sure they return all that they took.  In a report by Radio Okapi on July 23, Mr. Akida expressed his skepticism and mistrust in the Congolese judicial system saying that “what is unfortunate for us is that one can denounce this diversion and at the end of the day one is not able to put the hand on the criminal, and especially to bring him to justice. If you remember, when there was a denunciation of certain ministers of the previous government, they were dismissed from their duties, but after that they no longer were bothered. And, moreover, they were not brought to justice, and never returned the amounts they were accused to have stolen.”

The Cost of Corruption to a Nation
Corruption has been institutionalized and remains one of the weaknesses of the DRC government.  The cost of corruption is extremely high.   Rooted in the culture of not applying laws, corruption is an expression of a resistance to accountability.

On June 30, 1960 , the Democratic Republic of the Congo was formally proclaimed independent from Belgium .  What kind of independence has it had?   Like many African nations, the period since independence has been very similar to the time before independence.  After the assassination of the elected Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba , president Mobutu Sese Seko ruled the Congo like his personal property making the Congo a favorable ground for neo-colonialism . As a result, today's Congolese patriots continue to face one big challenge:  to free the country from neo-colonialism.  As the independence freedom movement believed that independence was past due and demanded it, the war against neo-colonialism has to be fought with renewed energy.  

Congolese Independence in the African Context

The Congo and African nations in general have to demand freedom from western powers.   This includes the West's African surrogates who have accepted to work for them instead of working for the African people.  Africans need to claim their pride, prosperity, peace, and independence from Africa's "strong men" who were once part of the freedom movement but who are now the continent's oppressors.  African neo-colonial freedom fighters should be aware of the errors of people such as Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Iddris Deby of Chad, and many more who have failed their nations, killing the democratic process by manipulating the constitution to stay in power.  With its political instability, the Congo is at risk of experiencing failure in its presidential electoral process.  The Congolese people have to stay vigilant to ensure President Joseph Kabila abides by the needs of the Congolese people instead of the post-colonial African leadership example of staying in power by all means for as long as one lives.

by Bahati Ntama, Posted June 30, 2008