How an Ant crushes an Elephant
By: Jennifer Fierberg, MSW
On January 3, 2012 President Barack Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 despite his own threat to veto it over exclusions on closing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp. While most Americans will read  this Act for how it affects them, as they should, there is a small portion that has the potential to greatly affect Central Africa.
In sec. 1283 there are specifics regarding Joseph Kony and the LRA and sec. 1284 is specific to any supporter of the M23 which is the current most talked about rebel group in Eastern DRC. This bill was followed closely through both the House and Senate and committees to be sure that this part of the Act was not removed by either chamber. Obama could have vetoed the entire bill based on any item but he did not.
So what does any of this mean for Central Africa? Based on President Obama’s history of inaction in this region of the world the current NDAA for 2013 will most likely have little effect.
President Obama created the most comprehensive bill in regards to Eastern DRC with Hillary Clinton, P.L. 109-456, that specifically states that any country found to be working to destabilize the DRC would be sanctioned by withholding Foreign Assistance. There is a mountain of proof against the Government of Rwanda and their long history of causing wars in Eastern DRC all the way back to 1996. There is report after report proving that the Government of Rwanda has worked tirelessly to destabilize this region in a geo-strategic war for resource control yet President Obama has done nothing to enforce this well written and comprehensive plan. Nothing. Numerous human rights organizations, activists and journalist have petitioned him, took to Twitter to ask him to take action against those who are currently destabilizing the region. Many also sought the ear of Ambassador Susan Rice hoping she would find compassion for the people of DRC and take steps to sanction the key players in this conflict in the Government of Rwanda but she also turned a deaf ear. Â Although, this move backfired on her when it was discovered that she has a long standing and close personal relationship with President Kagame of Rwanda which clouded her judgment to assist the people suffering, dying and being raped in Eastern Congo.
As President Obama is approaching his second term as the U.S. President many have lost faith in his ability to take any kind of formal action in Central Africa. Recently, the U.S. government took action against Russia under the Magnitsky Bill accusing them of human rights violations against one prisoner who died of an untreated health issue while awaiting trial and cut hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid. This prisoner was a whistle blower that found a quarter of a billion dollars had been acquired by  a massive fraud involving Russian tax officials.
Now, the death of one in Russia led to cuting millions of dollars in aid to Russia and in turn Russia has ceased all foreign adoptions to U.S. citizens. Now compare that to Eastern DRC where approximately over 5 million people have perished in one of the longest ongoing warzone in recent history and the US government has done nothing besides minor sanction of a few rebel leaders of the M23 who could care less about travel bans and the freezing of foreign assets.
President Obama placed a phone call to President Kagame and stated that any and all alleged assistance and support to the M23 “is inconsistent with Rwanda’s desire for stability and peace.† This same phone call was made to President Kabila of the DRC.  Concerned parties can only speculate what President Obama had in mind during this call while others speculate that he was reiterating the talking points given in Undersecretary Carson’s testimonies to Congress. It was made on December 18, 2012 just a few weeks before the NDAA was signed. Did Obama have this Act in mind when he made that phone call? Was it made out of guilt from years upon years of inaction on P.L. 109-456? Only time will tell.
Rwanda is one one-hundredth the size of DRC and has been able to murder, rape, pillage and destroy with impunity while the international community has turned a blind eye. Over the last year the UNSC Group of Experts turned the head of the international community with their damaging reports systematically proving Rwanda’s involvement in Eastern Congo which has led to millions of dollars in foreign aid cuts to Rwanda. But is any of this enough? Rwanda responded with their rebuttal report to disprove the Group of Experts report but, frankly, no one but the Government of Rwanda and her supporters actually believes them and only Rwanda denies the UN GoE report.
There is no doubt that the UN and the UNSC has failed the people of the DRC even in light of the mountains of evidence showing Rwanda as the main aggressive force in DRC and at this point it will take an Executive Order from President Obama in order for any sanctions to be applied to the Government of Rwanda.
Activist, concerned citizens, human rights groups and journalist must all keep pressure on the US government to enforce this section of the Act. Without public pressure nothing will happen.
Will his second term as the leader of the most powerful country in the world prove to be any different than his first term? Only time will tell.
Source: Â Salem-news.com
For me to not take an objective approach to the problems of DRC will result in nothing.
Why to only look at one question of Congo ? Do you know how many rebel forces are out there ? How many people have been killed by those groups ? I believe you know it well, but you wish to demonize M32 only, why ? You should have your own reasons.
If you don’t know, I would invite you to log on http://www.radiookapi.net, you will know more about DRC.
What do you say on the fact that one MP has been sacked and is about to be pursued to courts simply because he says that he support M23, while a general Amisi, former chief of staff of ground forces, accused of arming rebels including M23 and others is still around. Tschebeya, a human rights activist was killed along the driver and a friend, more than 4 years later no one has been arrested yet a general called John Numbi is pointed fingers but he continues his job as nothing happened.
None seems to be interested to Mai Mai Nyatura, Raia Mutomboki, Morgan who are killing people in Mambasa, Shabunda and else where, None is saying anything about FDLR yet they made an incursion in my country from DRC and went back there, our army officers produced events to the world about the issue but what evidence other than BLAH BLAH did DRC produce implicating Rwanda to M23 ? Nope
It has been found that one day before M23 entered GOMA, the Congolese army was instructed to move from Goma to Sake, who gave the orders, why wasn’t an investigation launched ? in Congo there are problems than answers
If you really want DRC to be peaceful take a balanced approach to its problems from the general injustice, corruption, different
TRY TO TAKE A FAIR LOOK AT OUR REGION PROBLEMS OTHERWISE TELL US OF YOUR COUNTRY STORIES OTHERWISE TRY TO LEAVE US IN PEACE
Read this http://www.liberation.fr/monde/2013/01/09/rwanda-trois-fantomes-et-un-mystere_872895
and tell us about what you think about it as you have been appointed yourself as an expert of our region’s problems
Gahanga, I don’t understand your reasoning.
Are you saying M23 shouldn’t be blamed and Rwanda should be grolified for supporting them simply because there are many more rebel groups in DRC? Remember, ‘Two wrongs don’t make a right’.
@Ngabo, my friend I meaning that taking a wrong approach to the problem won’t result in it being resolved at all. If anyone needs to find a solution to the DRC’s problems he or she should not look at one side.
I always want to know why some people tend to single out M23 yet there are a multitude of rebel forces in Congo.
Also Rwanda should never be accused of supporting M23 since there is no concrete evidence whatsoever has been put to light linking Rwanda to M23 except rumors.
Remember, too, that simply because anyone sits anywhere and points fingers to doesn’t mean you are guilty.
See how our government was accused by Mr Bruiguiere that it downed Habyarimana’s plane, now look how a simple discovery of forged death certificate made all the issue upside down, sooner or later the UN group of experts motives and interests in DRC matters will be put to light
Ibi birwanisho bigurirwa hehe kubiteye ubwoba birakze pe
Kagame is about to pay back what he has done soon , since 94 he has not felt happy up so far !!!!
this is a big shame for a president who is afraid of his own people live like a prisoner and lying that he has elected !!!! is among 10 people who has not enjoyed our victory !!!
I feel pity for him really !!! he might be not have a feeling of human being !!! he puts 10 million
in trouble !! and he thinks that is a big man or strong !!! no is a vicious coward killer man
Can Gahanga propose the wright aproach?
It is simple to say; DRC SHOULD DO GOVERNED BY STRONG MEN AND WOMEN; HAVE A STRONG LEADERSHIP. Being strong I don’t mean having a government with powerful army rather a government that cares to its population’s problems, having a good and reliable justice system, distributing wealthy equitably among Congolese, treating all the same way, rejecting outsiders’ meddling in internal affairs, caring more about the country than self, trying to find internal solutions before seeking external help
Changing mentality to see your part in your problems; Congolese political class should recognize what part their government has in the country’s problems and bring a solution to it, I believe Congo will progress to long lasting
What a bunch of contradictions @Gahanga is trying to present. You state that,” … treating all the same way, rejecting outsiders’ meddling in internal affairs, …”, and yet blame DRC government for rejecting and exposing Rwanda’s government support of M23. Isn’t that rejecting outside meddling? You go on to ignore the fact that Gen James Kabarebe is on record alleging that the main reason M23 claims to be fighting for is its officers refusing to be taken to serve in other regions of DRC and asking for special treating. Why do you think that those in M23 should be treated in a special way then? Why does your “hero Kagame” blame Kabila for ordering Ntaganda to be arrested and handed to ICC? Do you, @Gahanga, know that DRC is within the ICC jurisdiction as a signatory or not? If you know all that, why can’t you see where the source of this M23 relating to Rwanda is coming from. One does need to be an expert to make the right conclusion, having the right first hand information from within the ‘bragging RDF’ top brass not withstanding.
When Kagame imprisoned Victore Ingabire, Deo Mushyadi, and others, no other president questioned his decision, although clearly all these are politically motivated and a coward way most dictators use to silence any opposition. Why does Kagame then question Kabila’s decision, to order arrest of Bosco Ntaganda, while exercise his sovereign right correctly? That is where the problem lies and should begin to be solved going forward. You have no right or justification to decide for DRC how to solve their internal problem. And that is your, @Gahanga, and Rwandans contadiction on this issue.
DRC allowed Rwanda through UMOJA WETU to join them in addressing the issue you mention of FDLR, two times plus the much praised RDF special forces that were there for years, this according to you did not yield results. This contradicts the success story of the so called UMOJA WETU operations. If DRC gave Rwanda access for more than the three years, why should they turn around and accuse Rwanda? Can’t you really see that there reaches a time when enough is enough, just as Rwandans are loudly saying enough is enough with ‘the Dictatorial and Repressive regime of Kagame with his RPF? Get real and leave this lady, Jennifer, alone. She is only being a responsible “GLOBAL CITIZEN”, doing her global civic duty, where her leaders are losing focus.
Get out of DRC and let Congolese solve their own problems alone the way they think fit. Any Global Citizen has a responsibility to stand up for the helpless where ever they are. The Congolese in Eastern DRC are helpless and it is unacceptable in our current Globalized era to let it go on for such a long time. If people like @Gahanga choose to look inwards, don’t think that that is the norm. Otherwise the Rwanda Genocide Victims would have died in vain and the “Never Again” would be meaningless.
And yet blame DRC government for rejecting and exposing Rwanda’s government support of M23.
@Shishoza, my dear friend, what evidence; pictorial or testimonial, has DRC and the so called UN GoE presented to the world besides baseless words ? None, Everyone, including DRC government officials, know that Rwanda is innocent as far as this problem is concerned but it is common standard for fool and weak people to disown their problems and put them to others.
What would you do if you were asked to balance between peace and justice ? would you favor justice over peace or otherwise ? This is the equation that sweat many people like Kabila; He allowed external meddling to render justice in favor of peace now look at how the situation is unfolding.
Have a look not far than Afghanistan, why are western countries negotiating with Taliban yet they are branded as terrorists who killed many western soldiers ? Who ordered them to do so ? No one. How can a person like Ocampo turn his eyes thousands of miles away from La Haye yet near him there are genocide killers, FDLR leaders whose groups have killed scores of people that are moving freely in western country capitals such as Paris, Bruxelles just to name a few
But because it is Africa, anyone can come and impose his or her own willing as long as the consequences does not affect him or her morally and/ or physically.
This is what we need and have to fight against, don’t say that Rwanda should move out of DRC because there is no proof to this assertion
ONLY MAD PEOPLE DO THINGS THAT PRESENT NO INTEREST TO THEM
@Gahanga, when will you people grow up and realise that the world has come to know your tricks. In 1996, Kagame vehemently denied in role in the war that eventually removed Mobutu. While in Washington the following year he bragged of toppling Mobutu, asking where Kabila senior would get the means to do so. Actually Rwanda’s current minister of defense became the post Mobutu RDC’s Chief of Defence. In 1998 Kagame was at it again. Despite denials, he ended having his army and Museveni’s army sorting it in Kisangani. In 2003, it was the threat of the International community that forced Rwanda out of DRC. Come 2009, Rwanda again was given ultimatums to stop meddling in DRC. The response of Kagame was to arrest Gen Nkunda, who is still in Rwanda as we speak. Even now Rwanda is there and as usual vehemently denying. The difference from all those earlier times was that no opposition was ready to give an objective view to the issue.
You rightly say that the Talibans are being negotiated with. That should indicate to you that a time comes when enough is enough. Adventures in other countries, for right or wrong reasons, can’t gone on forever. Let Rwanda have proper independent Judiciary that can try people like Gen. Gumisiliza, Gen.Rutatina, Gen Ibingira and Col. Dan Munyuza for their conducts in DRC. Then you will see if there is need for referring the likes to ICC. First get out of DRC, then sort you governance issues and free up the Judiciary, and thereafter you can complain or judge others. You can’t be both the villain and claim to be victim. You are the Villain Period!!!
Igya kurisha ihera kunama?
Siku za mwizi ni aruba yine. So Rwanda’s 40th day has come. The noble thing to do is to own up and get out of DRC in all forms and shape. What happened to Gen Gumisiliza, Rutatina and Col. Dan Munyuza cases regarding their doing businesses in DRC? Could this have been the precursor for end game we are witnessing? Does the timing of their arrest and the dates Gen Kabarebe touts around suggesting his infamous mediation of former CNDP and FARDC officers ring any bells? There is a strong conventional belief that these notorious officers were sacrificial lambs for Rwanda being caught red handed in meddling with local governance in Eastern DRC.
M23 was just an idea to salvage Kagame’s grand plan for Eastern DRC that has horribly gone wrong. Smart people in such circumstances would own up and go back to the drawing board. However in Kagame’s junta you dealing with mafias who are fooled by the flattery they are accorded by an out going generation of world actors that have left the globe in a total mess. These same actors have made sure that the world is left in a very precarious state both in financial and peace terms. So the world is at the mercy of civil activists like Jennifer and many Global Citizens to hold their leaders to account. In the case of Jennifer, President Obama is her leader. We should at least emulate her stance and hold the mafias like Kagame and his out going fanatics to account. Well done Jennifer and keep it up.
I am sure all peace loving Rwandans would fully support anyone who castigates actions that result in the suffering of the helpless people of Eastern DRC, our neighbours and kinsmen. This does not exonerate even our own leaders in the name of being patriotic. Patriotism requires of us to stand for what is right and strongly reject what brings Rwanda’s image in disrepute. Aggression of our neighbours, directly or indirectly, is totally unacceptable and completely wrong.