The death of Italy’s Ambassador to the DRC, Luca Attanasio (44) on that ill-omened day of 21st February, 2021sickened and shocked many. First of all, it was unexpected. That’s because most of the victims of this bald-faced criminality in the region are locals and the neighbouring country of Rwanda. Secondly, it is a barbaric and chicken act of crime. Thirdly, this needless death unearths what Rwandan authorities have nagged and forewarned about for a long time to no avail. Now that the world has seen what the authorities in Rwanda have seen that other didn’t–––it is time to decisively act–––to see to it that the culprits are brought to justice quickly. When the authorities in Rwanda said the Hutu militias–––currently based in the DRC were a regional menace–––nobody took them seriously. Those who did, thought it was a Rwandan problem. As usual, many thought it were political gimmicks whose bloopers and slackness thereof have now cost innocent lives of the diplomats who were working on the solution.
Essentially, sad as they are, the deaths of these diplomats have vindicated Rwandan authorities and proved the international community iniquitous, for ignoring this real menace. Now, what should be done? There are a couple of options. Firstly, regional countries need to put their heads together to address this menace. This will avert the possibility of sucking in superpowers such as Italy whose ambassador was butchered to step in. It is easy for such powers to step in under whatever opportune grounds such as the killing of Italy’s diplomats. Once they ensconce themselves in rickety country with such humungous sources or resource of value, it become hard to tell them to leave. Refer what is ongoing in the Maghreb where France and its allies are busy smoking out terrorists. Secondly, the international community needs to seriously rethink about its stance on the DRC and the Great Lakes region. Fourthly, time for diplomacy has lapsed. Instead, military muscles must be applied on the conflict to see to it that it is contained before much harm is done. Fifthly, the authorities in Rwanda must be supported to fight these criminals who have been at large for over twenty years now since they committed heinous crimes in Rwanda in 1994 whereby approx. one million innocent people, mainly Tutsis, were coldheartedly and cowardly butchered.
It must be clearly comprehended that those involved in this criminality are more of heartless banditti who are hellbent to see to it that the region becomes a tinderbox. For them, if the region becomes a warzone, they have nothing to lose except getting more time to avert the long arm of justice to catch up with them. Importantly, for them, the instability of the region is the gift they are looking for in order to survive. Therefore, the region and the international community should avert falling into their trap by ignoring the conflict. These desperados aim at destabilising the DRC and the region at large in order to get more time to prepare another genocide–––God forbid. Thus, neutralising and vanquishing such criminals don’t mean helping Rwanda to make its political agenda but, instead, make the region safe and stable. This appeals to every peace lover and the rest. We all know how rich is the DRC that many Western countries have always depended on for the supply of natural resources. If this goes on, where will such resources come from? I know. There are international carpetbaggers who would like to see the DRC and the region sink into conflict so that they can get cheap supply of resources. Importantly, this is doable and possible for a short time. In the long run, the destabilised Great Lakes Region is nothing but a cul-de-sac not only for the region but also for the international community.
Considering the nature and number of these criminals, the region–––if decisively decides–––has what it takes to address and arrest the problem. Imagine, if all countries of the region would bequeath at least two thousand soldiers a piece. What’d this contingent do in tracking and neutralising these criminals? Although this can be overlooked or viewed as a mindboggling solution, what has been ongoing in the region and other regions facing this terrorism is the lack or unreadiness of reunifying Africa. It is the jinx of Africa’s disunity that started in 1884 when European colonial powers divided and partitioned Africa in order to weaken it for easy colonisation, exploitation and occupation. That’s why the trepidation about slurping such forces in the DRC is bigly real. If this happens, there’s no way the intruders will be told to leave by any means. Remember. When African countries fought for their feeble and political independence, the colonisers were a few in numbers. This time the number will be big. To make matters worse, most of foreign occupiers will be soldiers with all arsenals under their disposal. Who wants such an imbroglio-cum-jeopardy at this moment many fickle and feeble African countries are suffering from insecurity, poverty and proliferating maladministration?
It is easy to deal with the crisis in the DRC. Rwanda has rich intelligence on the problem. If shared and well used, the task of resolving this conflict militarily is not only high but practical. Therefore, instead of making the conflict in Eastern DRC exclusively Rwanda’s or DRC’s problem, the region and the international community should seize this opportunity quickly and finish the business once and for all for the benefit, prosperity and the stability of the region and the world. What’s been ongoing in Afghanistan and the Middle East must provide a lesson on how a conflict can slog on and subvert the region and the world at large. Instead of waiting for the conflict to become bigger and more full-blown than anybody can imagine as was the case of genocide in Rwanda, we mustn’t allow the genie to get out of the bottle. Better prevention than cure must guide us. What’s been ongoing in the Eastern DRC is the result of the international community failing to learn from history. Had it learned from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, nobody would be talking about this. Similarly, the blood of innocent Congolese, Rwandans and now diplomats wouldn’t have been shed. This blood will always be on our heads shall we maintain our negligence about the conflict we’re able to resolve quickly and timely shall there be political will for the region and the international community altogether.
In sum, the peril posed by Hutu militia in the Easter DRC and the county in general plus Rwanda mustn’t be pooh-poohed again for the jeopardy of the region. Western countries such as Italy–––whose diplomats have been butchered–––must now unfalteringly chastise and support the Great Lakes region to wake up and collectively put heads around this problem. Shall they resolve the problem, they’ll prove not only how mature Africa’s become but also how it has learnt from its mistakes so as to resolve its problems without wantonly depending on the West for everything even where it has what it takes. The deaths of innocent diplomats must produce the reasons and the tempo for taking the criminals in the Eastern DRC on now. Just now. Enough is enough. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I am sure the region is not the fool who is bitten twice in the same hole.
Essentially, sad as they are, the deaths of these diplomats have vindicated Rwandan authorities and proved the international community iniquitous, for ignoring this real menace. Now, what should be done? There are a couple of options. Firstly, regional countries need to put their heads together to address this menace. This will avert the possibility of sucking in superpowers such as Italy whose ambassador was butchered to step in. It is easy for such powers to step in under whatever opportune grounds such as the killing of Italy’s diplomats. Once they ensconce themselves in rickety country with such humungous sources or resource of value, it become hard to tell them to leave. Refer what is ongoing in the Maghreb where France and its allies are busy smoking out terrorists. Secondly, the international community needs to seriously rethink about its stance on the DRC and the Great Lakes region. Fourthly, time for diplomacy has lapsed. Instead, military muscles must be applied on the conflict to see to it that it is contained before much harm is done. Fifthly, the authorities in Rwanda must be supported to fight these criminals who have been at large for over twenty years now since they committed heinous crimes in Rwanda in 1994 whereby approx. one million innocent people, mainly Tutsis, were coldheartedly and cowardly butchered.
It must be clearly comprehended that those involved in this criminality are more of heartless banditti who are hellbent to see to it that the region becomes a tinderbox. For them, if the region becomes a warzone, they have nothing to lose except getting more time to avert the long arm of justice to catch up with them. Importantly, for them, the instability of the region is the gift they are looking for in order to survive. Therefore, the region and the international community should avert falling into their trap by ignoring the conflict. These desperados aim at destabilising the DRC and the region at large in order to get more time to prepare another genocide–––God forbid. Thus, neutralising and vanquishing such criminals don’t mean helping Rwanda to make its political agenda but, instead, make the region safe and stable. This appeals to every peace lover and the rest. We all know how rich is the DRC that many Western countries have always depended on for the supply of natural resources. If this goes on, where will such resources come from? I know. There are international carpetbaggers who would like to see the DRC and the region sink into conflict so that they can get cheap supply of resources. Importantly, this is doable and possible for a short time. In the long run, the destabilised Great Lakes Region is nothing but a cul-de-sac not only for the region but also for the international community.
Considering the nature and number of these criminals, the region–––if decisively decides–––has what it takes to address and arrest the problem. Imagine, if all countries of the region would bequeath at least two thousand soldiers a piece. What’d this contingent do in tracking and neutralising these criminals? Although this can be overlooked or viewed as a mindboggling solution, what has been ongoing in the region and other regions facing this terrorism is the lack or unreadiness of reunifying Africa. It is the jinx of Africa’s disunity that started in 1884 when European colonial powers divided and partitioned Africa in order to weaken it for easy colonisation, exploitation and occupation. That’s why the trepidation about slurping such forces in the DRC is bigly real. If this happens, there’s no way the intruders will be told to leave by any means. Remember. When African countries fought for their feeble and political independence, the colonisers were a few in numbers. This time the number will be big. To make matters worse, most of foreign occupiers will be soldiers with all arsenals under their disposal. Who wants such an imbroglio-cum-jeopardy at this moment many fickle and feeble African countries are suffering from insecurity, poverty and proliferating maladministration?
It is easy to deal with the crisis in the DRC. Rwanda has rich intelligence on the problem. If shared and well used, the task of resolving this conflict militarily is not only high but practical. Therefore, instead of making the conflict in Eastern DRC exclusively Rwanda’s or DRC’s problem, the region and the international community should seize this opportunity quickly and finish the business once and for all for the benefit, prosperity and the stability of the region and the world. What’s been ongoing in Afghanistan and the Middle East must provide a lesson on how a conflict can slog on and subvert the region and the world at large. Instead of waiting for the conflict to become bigger and more full-blown than anybody can imagine as was the case of genocide in Rwanda, we mustn’t allow the genie to get out of the bottle. Better prevention than cure must guide us. What’s been ongoing in the Eastern DRC is the result of the international community failing to learn from history. Had it learned from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, nobody would be talking about this. Similarly, the blood of innocent Congolese, Rwandans and now diplomats wouldn’t have been shed. This blood will always be on our heads shall we maintain our negligence about the conflict we’re able to resolve quickly and timely shall there be political will for the region and the international community altogether.
In sum, the peril posed by Hutu militia in the Easter DRC and the county in general plus Rwanda mustn’t be pooh-poohed again for the jeopardy of the region. Western countries such as Italy–––whose diplomats have been butchered–––must now unfalteringly chastise and support the Great Lakes region to wake up and collectively put heads around this problem. Shall they resolve the problem, they’ll prove not only how mature Africa’s become but also how it has learnt from its mistakes so as to resolve its problems without wantonly depending on the West for everything even where it has what it takes. The deaths of innocent diplomats must produce the reasons and the tempo for taking the criminals in the Eastern DRC on now. Just now. Enough is enough. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I am sure the region is not the fool who is bitten twice in the same hole.
Source: African Executive Magazine Tomorrow.
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