DRC Parliament Declares Uganda, Rwanda “Enemy States”
The DRC Parliament has declared Uganda and Rwanda as “enemy/aggressor” states, raising fears of worsening relations between Kinshasa and neighbours.
Presidents Kabila, Kagame, UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon and Museveni at a recent function
In a heated plenary session, the MPs also directed the DRC peace team in Kampala not to sign any a agreement with the defeated M23 rebels apart from a declaration by the rebels renouncing rebellion and committing its fighters to a disarmament and demobilisation process.
Sources in the diplomatic community say United States and other western countries have lately appreciated the growing animosity between DRC and her two neighbours that could lead to a confrontation.
Highly placed sources say following the defeat of the M23 rebels, it was understood and agreed that DRC would immediately take on the FDLR and ADF militia.
However, a month down the road, there are little signs to show DRC’s determination to fulfill its obligations.
Last weekend, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Katumba Wamala travelled to Goma to get acquainted with DRC’s plans to attack ADF bases.
Intelligence officials say the more DRC and Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) delays to raid ADF hideouts, the more they intensify recruitment and mobilisation of arms in preparation for the onslaught.
Uganda has also made it clear to DRC that it wants to see a peace deal concluded and refugees returned to their homes as soon as possible.
According to MP Vital Budu, the recommendations adopted by the DRC government would work as guiding principles for Kinshasa in finding a lasting solution to the humanitarian crisis in DRC relations with neighbours.
The DRC has for long maintained the narrative that Uganda and DRC are to blame for the crisis in Eastern Congo through support of the M23 rebels. The two countries deny the allegations.
The DRC National Assembly also decided on Wednesday that government immediately provides ample resources and logistics to the army “to properly defend the country and also expedite reforms in security institutions.”
Talks
The MPs further agreed to pile pressure on Uganda and Rwanda to negotiate with the ADF and FDLR terrorist militia as suggested by Tanzanian leader, Jakaya Kikwete a few months ago on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Ethiopia.
“Why should the international community press DRC to talk to M23 yet Uganda and Rwanda don’t want to discuss with their rebel groups? We want to see more dialogue taking place. That’s how the Great Lakes region will realise peace,” said Emery Okundji, a radical legislator in the DRC National Assembly.
Uganda and Rwanda maintain FDLR and ADF are terrorist organisations. Kampala and Kigali are yet to respond to the DRC legislative body’s resolutions.
MPs thanked the national armed forces (FARDC) for “bravely defending” the country’s territorial integrity and that they should remain “vigilant so that the enemy does not return to haunt us.”
The latest political developments in DRC have since worried officials in western countries, with United States sending the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Russell D. Feingold to Kigali.
The State Department said in a statement today that Feingold would travel to Kigali and Paris to meet with government representatives and Great Lakes heads of state this week.
Source: Chimpreports
“He intends to discuss next steps in the implementation of the Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework, including the possibility of a regional mediated dialogue aimed at resolving the root causes of conflict in the region,” the statement reads in part.
“The United States stands ready to support the region in launching such a dialogue and advancing the Framework peace process.”
And about time a spade was called a spade.
i think KABILA can\’t speak this i believe him to be a good politician, furthermore, there is no clear examples that can approve those tals. means all are rumours.