Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF), under the cover of M23 and other proxy rebels and militias, have continued to expand their conquests in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), despite the presence of the forces of the Eastern African Community (EAC) and the UN (MONUSCO). The invasion has led to some DRC government key leaders resigning from their posts and accusing Felix Tshisekedi of incompetence and lack of leadership. Meanwhile, the M23 proxy leaders have met former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyata, the appointed EAC facilitator. During the meeting, M23 rebels leaders scorned and condescended to the Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye, the current EAC president and a leader of the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes. As the plan of the balkanization of Eastern DRC continues, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, in agreement with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, alledgedly has decided to change a plan for his succession, designating one of his sons to replace his daughter Ms. Ange Kagame, as the heir to the throne in Rwanda and to work with Uganda's designated heir to the throne, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Civilians and NGOs Condemn Apathy of EAC Peace Keeping Forces; M23 Disdain Towards Burundi President Ndayishimiye.
RDF under M23 cover, have been expanding their invasions despite the presence of EAC peacekeeping forces. Since the EAC forces deployed in Eastern DRC, the RDF/M23 forces have managed to invade and occupy or maintain several territories including Jomba, where Bunagana is located; Rutshuru, where Rutshuru Centre, Rumangabo, Kiwanja, Kinyandonyi, Gahunga, and Mabenga are located; and Rugari, Kisigari, Bweza, Bambo, Binza, Tongo, Bishusha, Kibumba and Buhanga in Nyiragongo.
On January 13, 2022, pointing to the passivity, apathy, and inefficiency of the EAC peacekeeping forces against M23 rebels, the Congolese civilians and non-government organizations based in North-Kivu have given an ultimatum to EAC troops. In the ultimatum, published on social media, the NGOs and the civilians in North-Kivu have given 6 days to EAC forces to conduct operations in areas controlled by RDF/M23 troops, or leave the country. Public protests are planned againt EAC forces in case the operations do not happen within the 6-days notice.
Meanwhile, on January 12, 2022, former Kenyan president and appointed EAC facilitator, Uhuru Kenyata met the M23 proxy leaders in Mombasa, Kenya. The meeting was not welcomed by the Congolese people, in general.
In the meeting, according to a press release by M23 proxy leaders, the discussions focused on a process for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of M23 troops from occupied areas before the Feb 23, 2023 EAC meeting, known as Nairobi IV, and the engagement of foreign and other non-government forces in Eastern DRC into peace processes.
According to AfroAmerica sources close to M23 rebels, the meeting participants ignored the role of the EAC president Evariste Ndayishimiye. As a result, M23 leaders sent their message by expressing their disdain and calling him "President Ndishimaye of Burundi" in the press release. Burundians and other leaders were dismayed. Congolese leaders contacted by AfroAmerica Network said that they were not surprised by the disdain as, unpredictably, lately president Evariste Ndayishimiye has seemed to lean towards the narrative of Rwanda, Uganda, and M23 leaders and to get too close to Uganda's Yoweri Museveni. Hence, some influential congolese have been accusing him in posts in media alleging that Rwandan and M23 leaders have started to take him for granted and minimizing his role and accusing him of prioritizing the need of the Congolese population threatened by massacres and war crimes commited by RDF/M23 forces.
According to the sources, the apathy by EAC leaders and troops and the disdain towards the Burundi President seem to have fueled the movement towards the balkanization of DRC. This has been combined with the on-going tensions within the DRC government and the growing opposition against DRC President Felix Tshisekedi.
Advertisement
Get the following books on Amazon:
Legs of Tornado: The Human Who Outran the Wind, an African tale about a human from a humble upbringing who outran the wind, defeated evil spirits, overcame his fate, became a respected clan chief, and triumphed ever after
Click Here to Get the books: Even Roosters Dream to Fly and Legs of Tornado
Even Roosters Dream to Fly along with Legs of Tornado are also available on Amazon worldwide and soon to several other platforms:
For more on the book, the author, the inspiration of the stories, Visit the author website here
Tensions within the DRC Government and Growing Opposition Against Felix Tshisekedi.
Tensions between DRC president Felix Tshisekedi and his closest allies, on one side, and some government and local leaders, on the other, have escalated.
The escalation follows the accusations against Felix Tshisekedi of lack of a strong and firm leadership against the Rwandan regime, his association with Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni and his invitation of Ugandan Defense Forces (UPDF) into DRC, despite an open secret and clear facts that UPDF are allied with Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF), and both Rwanda's Paul Kagame and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni are working together towards the balkanization of DRC.
The DRC leaders opposed to Felix Tshiseked point to the consistent statements and social media posts by Uganda's Yoweri Museveni's heir to the throne, Lt. Gen. Kainerugaba Muhoozi, supporting M23 rebels and General Paul Kagame.
In the last few weeks, several members of the government and local leaders have resigned from their positions. So far, Felix TShisekedi has been unable to find their rerplacements. Those contacted have rejected his offers, arguing that they do not want to associate themselves with a failing government, while others accuse Felix Tshisekedi of having secret agreements with Paul Kagame regarding the balkanization.
On December 28, 2022, three government ministers, who hail from the party of the opposition leader Moise Katumbi, aka Kitokatoka, refused to attend the cabinet meeting convined by Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde and immediately resigned.
The personalities include Planning minister Christian Mwando, Transport and Communication minister Chérubin Okende, and Health vice-ministrer Véronique Kilumba. Moise Katumbi has often been accused of being too close to, even being an agent of the Rwandan government and the dictator Paul Kagame and of supporting Rwandan proxy rebels and militias (see AfroAmerica Network here: Moise Katumbi and Paul Kagame). He has denied the claims and stated that he wants to get the "incompetent and visionless Felix Tshisekedi" out of power in the next elections.
Those who resigned recently also include the governor of Lualaba Province, Richard Muyej Mangeze. AfroAmerica Network has a copy of the resignation letter addressed to the Vice-President and Minister of Interior, Security, Decentralisation, and Customs and Tradition, with a copy to the Chef de Cabinet of President Tshisekedi on January 10, 2023.
Although the letter does not mention the reason of the resignation, people close to Richard Mangeze told AfroAmerica Network that he has decided to distance himself from Felix Tshisekedi's government, "because of his incompetence, his lack of vision and the dreadful fate to which he is leading the DRC people and nation".
Congolese opposition leaders Senator Matata Ponyo, Martin Fayulu, and Nobel Prize winner Dénis Mukwege have also decided to pull their energies together to oppose Felix Tshisekedi.
According to AfroAmerica Network sources close to the three personalities, these leaders are disappointed by the lack of determination by Felix Tshisekedi in requesting a firm condemnation and impactful sanctions by the UN Security Council against the Rwanda regime and dictator Paul Kagame, the expulsion of M23 rebels from DRC instead of the creation of a zone where the M23 forces will be free to reorganize for the next military operations as it happened in Rwanda in 1991-1994, the request for the end of the MONUSCO mendate after more than 20 years without impactful results, the termination of diplomatic relations with Rwanda, and the handling of the case of Rwandan rebels of FDLR and Ugandan rebels of ADF.
Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Rwanda's Paul Kagame Ready for the Balkanization of DRC and Appointing their Heir to the Throne
Despite all the dynamics, questions remain about the intentions of Felix Tshisekedi and DRC leaders and the potential reaction by the Rwandan and Ugandan leaders Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni, and their oligarchies:
- Will Felix Tshisekedi survive the deeping crisis in DRC, invade Rwanda, and help overthrow the Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame to avert the balkanization?
- Will the Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame and Uganda dictator Yoweri Museveni outsmart Felix Tshisekedi with insidious schemes, like they did for Laurent-Desire Kabila (see also Beyond the Myth Ex-FAR/Interahamwe and the Congolese Tragedy)?
- Will the Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame and Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni outsmart the World and succeed in their balkanization or conquest plan like they did for Rwanda in 1990 - 1994?
According to AfroAmerica Network sources close to Yoweri Museveni's closest aides in Kampala, Uganda and Paul Kagame's Department of Military Intelligence in Kigali, Rwanda, the balkanization of the DRC is in a good shape and moving according to the plan: Uganda's forces will take over the provinces of Ituri and parts of the northern North-Kivu Province, whereas Rwanda's forces will conquer the southern part of North-Kivu province and the South-Kivu province.
This time, Yoweri Museveni and Paul Kagame have also agreed to share the mineral and natural resources in the three targeted provinces to avoid the repeat of the 2000 Six-Day War. 2000 Six-Day War is a series of armed confrontations between Ugandan and Rwandan forces around the city of Kisangani from June 5 to June 10, 2000, when, after invading DRC together, they fought to control Congolese mineral resources.
Meanwhile, as AfroAmerica Network has been reporting, sources within the Rwandan Defense Forces and the Directorate of Military Intelligence have continued to provide enough detailed information to AfroAmerica Network sources in Kigali, Rwanda that given the geopolitical situation in the region and the concerns regarding the condemnations by the international community, Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni have finally agreed on a strategy for their replacement, including designating a new, though controversial, asset who will replace Paul Kagame, instead of his daughter, Mrs. Ange Kagame, as planned before (see here: Africa - Uganda - Rwanda: Ugandan and Rwandan Longterm Leaders, Yoweri Museveni and Paul Kagame, Preparing their Son and Daughter for Power Inheritance.).
Paul Kagame has selected his controversial son, 2nd Lt. Ian Kagame, who recently graduated from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in United Kingdom. Yoweri Museveni has maintained his son, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who also graduated from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2000, as his designated heir to the throne.
At 2nd Lt. Ian Kagame's graduation, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba tweeted a message of congratulations: “Officer Cadet Ian Kagame, I wish you all the best in Sandhurst! Be strong, be very fit and let nobody intimidate you! You were always strong even as a young child. I remember you fighting your father and me. Focus on the course alone and you will make it! I am proud of you!”
Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has started to get closer and work with 2nd Lt. Ian Kagame, whom he is calling "young cousin".
AfroAmerica Network will give detail and the new dynamics in upcoming articles.
@AfroAmerica Network 2023
