Town after town in North and South Kivu (east DRC) is falling into the hands of M23 rebels – aggravating one of Africa’s worst displacement crises (already affecting 7-million Congolese). Many in the region are fleeing their homes for the second time or more, in a country where displacement and loss are a fact of life, with the bloodshed extending down generations. Since the late ‘90s, Uganda and Rwanda have been accused of aiding militant groups – and even fighting each other – on Congolese soil, all in a bid to loot and benefit from Congo’s vast resource wealth.
Despite mounting evidence of culpability, both Uganda and Rwanda have always denied directly arming, financing or sheltering the militias terrorising eastern DRC. Multiple UN reports confirm what Congolese human-rights organisations have been documenting and sharing regarding Kampala and Kigali’s role in destabilising the Congo. This week’s Facts of the Week call out Uganda as Rwanda’s co-conspirator in the DRC’s seemingly endless spiral into hell. The evidence is overwhelming. But will Kampala ever admit its role in the Congo crisis? Will it ever be held to account? We value your views and insights.
Sources
https://www.economist.com/international/2000/06/15/congos-hidden-war
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violence-democratic-republic-congo
https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/06/05/Uganda-Rwanda-clash-againin-Congo/1653960177600/