Between Kagame and Museveni, does Félix Tshisekedi choose Museveni? Felix Tshisekedi would he have yielded to the pressure of the resurgence of a rebellion of ex-M23 to officially accept the deployment of Ugandan soldiers in the DRC ask several observers. Jean-Claude Katende, said the decision to allow Ugandan troops to enter was “an admission of failure” for the state of siege.
According to a UN source, the United Nations has been informed of Felix Tshisekedi’s desire to allow the UPDF, the Ugandan army, to enter the territories of North Kivu and Ituri.
A European diplomat confirmed the news, telling AFP: “We have been informed through our usual channels that President Tshisekedi has authorized Ugandan troops to cross the border to fight the ADF.
Indeed, since the recent ADF attacks in Kampala on November 16, which resulted in 4 deaths and several injuries, Ugandan President Yuweri Museveni had during a televised address on December 21 want to strike the ADF in their strongholds, that is, that is to say in the eastern part of the DRC.
The Rwandan President’s visit to Kinshasa on November 25 officially to participate in the summit of heads of state on positive masculinity organized by President Félix Tshisekedi, in fact hid another goal. “Warn the Congolese president that Rwanda is not going to allow Uganda to threaten its interests and its security from the Congo.” Paul Kagame came to seek guarantees from Kinshasa, and put forward the “hypothesis” of an intervention of the Rwandan army on Congolese soil at any time when his interests are threatened by the Ugandan Islamist insurgents and other active negative forces in the DRC.
Note that the DRC is one of the few countries where the Rwandan soldiers prefer to avoid making people talk about them and their “secret” operations, given the position of Congolese public opinion.
On November 7, the Rwandan Chief of Staff Jean-Bosco Kazura hastened to extinguish the fire caused by the attack of ex-combatants of the M23 rebel movement in North Kivu, on the border. from Rwanda and Uganda.
The Rwanda Defense Force immediately assured that these rebels were not supported by the Rwandan government, claiming in the process that the rebels are based in Uganda. The attack came from Uganda where the M23 have been based since 2013 according to the Rwandan military command. Felix Tshisekedi would he have yielded to the pressure of a resurgence of an ex-M23 rebellion to officially accept the deployment of Ugandan soldiers in the DRC, ask several observers.
Rwanda vs Uganda: Towards a “lightning war” in the DRC?
“If Ugandan troops enter the DRC, Rwanda will also send its own troops to our territory,” said Augustin Kambale, a resident of Beni. “And my fear is that the two countries will settle their scores again on our land.”
Rwandan and Ugandan regular forces fought with light and heavy weapons in Kisangani, a major mining center in northeastern DRC in 2000, killing dozens and injuring hundreds.
Being the main transit point for gold and other minerals mined in the DRC before it is exported out of Africa can pay off big. This is why Rwanda and Uganda are embarking on a real standoff in order to force Felix Tshisekedi to favor one or the other.
The Ugandan armed forces are authorized to enter the territories of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has honored his promise.
The objective is in particular to prosecute the armed group ADF which is rife in the region following the Kampala attacks in Uganda. The Ugandan-Rwandan rivalry in the leadership of eastern Congo riddled with an ethnic war does not abate despite the mediation of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi which ironically is his country which is at the base of this scarecrow revival.
Indeed, Uganda and Rwanda maintain conflicting relations, accusing each other of mutual destabilization. Museveni in his Ituri area wants to build roads. Ugandan head of state Yoweri Museveni announced in mid-October his intention to finance, to the tune of $ 53 million, the construction of new road infrastructure in northeastern DRC. On the other hand, Kagame in his Kivutien meadow will build more precisely around the city of Goma in the province of North Kivu “a modern village”, gift of the Rwandan president to the victims of the volcanic eruption that occurred last May. .
Beyond the “game of soft power” in eastern Congo, the Rwandan and Ugandan armies have embarked on the arms race and are tightening their military budgets. Rwandan forces are turning to Turkey, whose military attaché Ismail Demirtas has set up intense lobbying in Kigali. These missile-equipped drones built by Turkey with affordable digital technology have helped turn the tide against Russian-backed forces in Syria, Libya and Azerbaijan. The armaments companies Aselsan, Havelsan, Otokar and STM presented their catalog to the Rwandan military high command.
The Ugandan Mountain Brigades already deployed on a turbulent border in North Kivu province, in the DRC, made up of the Rwenzori mountain range, will be able to be operational on the other side of the mountain in the DRC.
This 333 Ugandan Mountain Brigade trained and equipped by the French defense equipment manufacturer Marck & Balsan will be deployed in North Kivu, in Béni.
Félix Tshisekedi in “bad” position between Museveni and Kagame
Kagame continues to present the Rwandan forces as an African military solution to African security problems. From Bangui to Maputo, the success of the professional Rwandan forces is “irrefutable”. In his continental security diplomacy, the Rwandan president wants his forces to solve the Congo’s problems where MONUSCO has failed. For his part, Museveni does not wish to see Rwandan soldiers in the zone of influence.
Antipas Mbusa Nyamuisi, local spokesperson for the Nande ethnic group, a former warlord close to the Ugandan generals, told AFP that the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces had received the “official” green light to hunt down the fighters ADF on Congolese soil. Note that the “Nyamuisi clan” has always benefited from the protection of Ugandan generals who do business through proxies in the north of the DRC.
We must fear the remake of the clash of two armies on Congolese soil even via proxies, a six-day war on Congolese soil.
Ugandan troops will not cross the border tonight or tomorrow, according to official sources. All procedures must first be respected, especially with regard to the parliament and the military command of the DR Congo.
Coco Kabwika
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