The DRC’s over 100 000 troops are battling to defeat the M23 which has about 7000 members. The DRC’s over 100 000 troops are battling to defeat the M23 which has about 7000 members.
Image: Picture: File
By Silence Charumbira
The questions of who is funding militias that are freely roaming the Democratic Republic of Congo remain, while Rwanda is being accused of backing the M23 rebel group.
The DRC government has been struggling with militant groups for decades and has been failing to tackle the insurgency.
The DRC, being rich in minerals, has become a fighting hub for rebels battling it out to extract and sell minerals. However, the challenging question is always this: Who is responsible for the violence meted out to citizens?
The conflict has caused tension between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who are pointing fingers at each other.
The DRC’s over 100,000 troops are battling to defeat the M23, which has about 7000 members.
While the Western countries provide aid to conflict-stricken regions in the DRC, Rwanda’s aid provision has been suspended due to the allegations.
According to the UN, there are now 7 million people internally displaced as the M23 rebel group advances through provinces and cities. It remains to be seen when the insurgency of militias in the DRC will end and what plans are afoot to keep them out of the country.
Moving to Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has suffered a range of sanctions from Western countries, from the Robert Mugabe regime to the current regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The European Union imposed sanctions directed at financial, director disqualification, trade and immigration sanctions to encourage the Zimbabwean government to respect democratic principles and institutions, refrain from actions, policies or activities which repress civil society in Zimbabwe and to comply with international human rights law and respect for human rights.
This was imposed after opposition parties in Zimbabwe accused the ruling Zanu-PF of constantly rigging votes during election years, accusing the country’s police of using force against protestors, denying them the right to voice their frustrations.
Now the question of the Southern African Development Community’s role comes into play, as it seems the Western community takes control of what happens in African countries.
Couldn’t the SADC as well as the African Union intervene in matters involving Zimbabwe instead of the Western community taking control?
The powers of the two bodies have been questioned as conflicts continue to hit the continent, seemingly with no action taken.
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