Ο Παγκόσμιος Πόλεμος της Αφρικής ...
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the U.S. has strategic and economic interests in central African region, and Rwanda, among a number of other nations in that part of the world, protect and carry out U.S. interests in the region. So whenever Rwanda is called
account by the international community, the United States usually runs interference so that there are no sanctions brought against the Rwandan government. (...)
the U.S. has strategic and economic interests in central African region, and Rwanda, among a number of other nations in that part of the world, protect and carry out U.S. interests in the region. So whenever Rwanda is called
account by the international community, the United States usually runs interference so that there are no sanctions brought against the Rwandan government. (...)
The effects are devastating. As I shared with you, 200,000 people have been displaced. Really, since Rwanda invaded Congo in 1996, millions of Congolese have perished, hundreds of thousands of women have been systematically raped and Congo’s wealth has been looted. So the impact of Rwanda’s role in destabilizing the Congo has been tragic for the people of the region and especially the Congolese people.(...)
Rwanda’s interests are several-fold. And one, in their destabilizing the Congo, Rwanda is able to continue to benefit from Congo’s riches. Both Dow Jones and Bloomberg news have reported Rwanda has gained hundreds of millions of dollars in trading Congo’s minerals, its coltan and tin in particular. Bloomberg News said that Rwanda was one of two top traders of Congo’s conflict minerals – you know, tin, tungsten, and tantalum.
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πηγή
http://www.thelondoneveningpost.com/why-obama-is-shielding-kagames-disruption-of-the-drc/
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Ανάστατοι ήταν τον περασμένο μήνα στην έδρα του ΟΗΕ, στη Νέα Υόρκη. Στη Λαϊκή Δημοκρατία του Κονγκό, στην καρδιά της Αφρικής, οι αντάρτες του αυτοαποκαλούμενου κινήματος Μ23 με επικεφαλής τον 39χρονο στρατηγό του κονγκολέζικου στρατού Μπόσκο Νταγκάντα, τον αποκαλούμενο «Εξολοθρευτή», καταλάμβαναν τη μια μετά την άλλη τις πόλεις στο ανατολικό τμήμα της χώρας, κοντά στα σύνορα με τη Ρουάντα και την Ουγκάντα. Αυτό δεν θα είχε και τόσο μεγάλη σημασία, αν οι αντάρτες δεν έφταναν σε απόσταση μικρότερη των 40 χιλιομέτρων από την πόλη Γκόμα, ακριβώς στα σύνορα με τη Ρουάντα (μια χώρα με έκταση... εκατό φορές (!) μικρότερη από το Κονγκό).
Η Γκόμα, πρωτεύουσα της επαρχίας βόρειας Κίβου της ΛΔ Κονγκό, έχει ένα ιδιαίτερο χαρακτηριστικό: εκεί έχει την έδρα της η μεγαλύτερη δύναμη «κυανόκρανων» ειρηνευτικών δυνάμεων του ΟΗΕ που βρίσκεται σε αποστολή οπουδήποτε στον κόσμο αυτή τη στιγμή - κάπου 18.000 άνδρες. Θα συνιστούσε διασυρμό του ΟΗΕ ενδεχόμενη κατάληψη της Γκόμα επομένως από τους αντάρτες του Μ23, κάτι που οι ειδικοί λένε ότι μπορεί να γίνει πολύ εύκολα, αν το αποφασίσει ο στρατηγός Νταγκάντα.
Bosco Ntaganda,
the leader of the Congo rebels
Τα πράγματα είναι ακόμη πιο περίπλοκα. Από το 2006, το Διεθνές Ποινικό Δικαστήριο έχει εκδώσει ένταλμα εναντίον του «Εξολοθρευτή» Νταγκάντα. Οι ειρηνευτικές δυνάμεις του ΟΗΕ έχουν λάβει ειδική εντολή να χρησιμοποιήσουν ένοπλη βία εναντίον του. Εχουν αποσταλεί μάλιστα ειδικές στρατιωτικές δυνάμεις από τον ΟΗΕ στο ανατολικό Κονγκό, δυνάμεις εκπαιδευμένων καταδρομέων σε δολοφονίες, για να τον σκοτώσουν ή να τον συλλάβουν! Αν όμως 18.000 στρατιώτες του ΟΗΕ και ειδικοί εκτελεστές κυνηγούν να εξοντώσουν τον «Εξολοθρευτή» και τελικά το αποτέλεσμα είναι να... συλλάβει αυτός τους 18.000 «κυανόκρανους», θα γελάσει και το παρδαλό κατσίκι ανά την υφήλιο με τον ΟΗΕ και τα στρατεύματά του!
Η πικρή αλήθεια είναι βέβαια ότι δεν υπάρχει απολύτως τίποτα που να προκαλεί το γέλιο σε αυτή την ιστορία. Αντιθέτως, η φρίκη περισσεύει. Ποτάμια το αίμα που κυλάει στο σημείο αυτό του πλανήτη από το 1994.
Το κακό ξεκίνησε από τη μικροσκοπική Ρουάντα, όταν η επί αιώνες καταπιεζόμενη φυλή των Χουτού ξεσηκώθηκε εναντίον της ασκούσης την εξουσία φυλής των Τούτσι. Αντί όμως να αποκαταστήσουν δικαιότερες σχέσεις μεταξύ των δύο μεγάλων φυλών αυτού του κράτους, οι Χουτού άρχισαν να σφάζουν σωρηδόν τους Τούτσι, διαπράττοντας εξόφθαλμη γενοκτονία εναντίον τους με περίπου ένα εκατομμύριο θύματα!
Ο μόλις 21 ετών τότε Ρουαντέζος Νταγκάντα συμμετείχε το 1994 σε μια αντάρτικη ομάδα των Τούτσι που ανασυγκροτήθηκε και εξοπλίστηκε στην Ουγκάντα και στη συνέχεια εισέβαλε στη Ρουάντα, σταματώντας τη γενοκτονία. Με παρεμβάσεις ξένων κρατών οι Χουτού τελικά έχασαν την εξουσία και πέρασαν τα σύνορα μπαίνοντας στο Ζαΐρ, όπως ονομαζόταν τότε η ΛΔ Κονγκό, είχαν τη στήριξη του δικτάτορα του Ζαΐρ Μομπούτου.
Δύο χρόνια αργότερα, το 1996, ο εθνικός στρατός της Ρουάντας, με τον Νταγκάντα στις γραμμές του, εισέβαλε στο βορειοανατολικό Κονγκό για να σφάξει τους Χουτού. Η εισβολή της Ρουάντας και οι ήττες του ζαϊρινού στρατού συνέβαλαν τα μέγιστα στην ανατροπή του δικτάτορα Μομπούτου.
Ακολούθησαν πόλεμοι και σφαγές το 1999, το 2002, το 2003, το 2006 με αποτέλεσμα εκτός από το Κονγκό (όπως εκ νέου μετονομάστηκε το Ζαΐρ) και τη Ρουάντα να αναμειχθούν περισσότερο ή λιγότερο άμεσα και άλλα αφρικανικά κράτη. Οι νεκροί των εφιαλτικών αυτών συγκρούσεων έφτασαν τον τρομακτικό αριθμό των πέντε εκατομμυρίων. Δικαίως αποκλήθηκε ο Πρώτος Παγκόσμιος Πόλεμος της Αφρικής, για να υπογραμμιστεί η έκταση των απωλειών σε ανθρώπινες ζωές.
Το 2006 οι πολέμαρχοι του ανατολικού Κονγκό συγκρότησαν το Εθνικό Κογκρέσο για την Αμυνα του Λαού (CNDP από το γαλλικό ακρωνύμιο). Πρόκειται στην ουσία για ένοπλη ομάδα Τούτσι που υποστηρίζεται από τη Ρουάντα, με αρχηγό των στρατιωτικών επιχειρήσεων πλέον τον «Εξολοθρευτή» Νταγκάντα.
Η κυβέρνηση της ΛΔ Κονγκό, με πρόεδρο τον Ζοζέφ Καμπιλά, υπέγραψε στις 23 Μαρτίου του 2009 μια συμφωνία ειρήνευσης με το CNDP. Δέχτηκε να ενσωματωθούν οι στρατιωτικές δυνάμεις των ανταρτών στον τακτικό στρατό και έδωσε τον βαθμό του στρατηγού στον «Εξολοθρευτή».
Φέτος τον Απρίλιο όμως ο Νταγκάντα εγκατέλειψε τον στρατό με εκατοντάδες οπαδούς του, ανατινάζοντας αποθήκες πυρομαχικών, αναπτύσσοντας εκ νέου ένοπλη δράση και σφάζοντας πολίτες, τρομοκρατώντας εκατομμύρια αμάχους...
Obama and Rwanda's President,Paul Kagame
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Η Ρουάντα, η οποία τώρα έχει γίνει όργανο των ΗΠΑ ενώ παλαιότερα ανήκε στις χώρες υπό γαλλική επιρροή, βρίσκεται πίσω από τη διαρκή πολιτική αστάθεια και τις συγκρούσεις στο ανατολικό Κονγκό. ... Έκθεση του ΟΗΕ αποκαλύπτει ότι εκπρόσωποι της κυβέρνησης της Ρουάντας δήλωσαν σε συνάντηση με τους «αντάρτες» του Κονγκό ότι τους υποστηρίζουν με στόχο την απόσχιση δύο ανατολικών επαρχιών που είναι πλούσιες σε χρυσό, κασσίτερο και άλλα ορυκτά.
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ΣΤΟΧΟΣ
Απόσχιση επαρχιών με ορυχεία χρυσού!
Η Ρουάντα, η οποία τώρα έχει γίνει όργανο των ΗΠΑ ενώ παλαιότερα ανήκε στις χώρες υπό γαλλική επιρροή, βρίσκεται πίσω από τη διαρκή πολιτική αστάθεια και τις συγκρούσεις στο ανατολικό Κονγκό. Αυτό καταγγέλλει ευθέως ο ίδιος ο ΟΗΕ, σε έκθεσή του που δημοσιοποιήθηκε στις 29 Ιουνίου και προκάλεσε πάταγο. Η έκθεση του ΟΗΕ αποκαλύπτει ότι εκπρόσωποι της κυβέρνησης της Ρουάντας δήλωσαν σε συνάντηση με τους «αντάρτες» του Κονγκό ότι τους υποστηρίζουν με στόχο την απόσχιση δύο ανατολικών επαρχιών που είναι πλούσιες σε χρυσό, κασσίτερο και άλλα ορυκτά. Η έκθεση αναφέρει επίσης πως η Ρουάντα εξοπλίζει τους στασιαστές του Κονγκό, πως τους προμηθεύει τρόφιμα, σκηνές, φάρμακα, πολεμοφόδια, αλλά και εκατοντάδες μαχητές που παριστάνουν τους Κονγκολέζους «αντάρτες».
Toυ ΓΙΩΡΓΟΥ ΔΕΛΑΣΤΙΚ
''ΕΘΝΟΣ''
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Why Obama is shielding Kagame’s disruption of the DRC
In the wake of recent revelations by the United Nations Group of Experts that Rwandan President Paul Kagame is supporting the disruption of the Democratic Republic of Congo, we bring to our readers a recent radio interview that TRNN, a global online video news network held with a representative of the Friends of Congo representative in Washington DC who explains why the United States is turning a blind eye to Kagame’s actions. Paul Jay, TRNN’s CEO, host and senior editor conducted the interview:
PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN:
Welcome to The Real News Network. I’m Paul Jay in Baltimore. In the Congo, a report says there is a mutiny going on amongst the Congolese army. This is a report from the United Nations. An interim report or a version of that report was released on Friday, but some of the people that were involved in the committee of experts that wrote that report have leaked that there’s more to it, and it has to do with Rwandan interference in the Congo. And if so, that wouldn’t be something new. Now joining us to talk about all of this is Maurice Carney. He’s the executive director and co-founder of Friends of the Congo, and he joins us now from our D.C. office. Thanks for joining us, Maurice.
Welcome to The Real News Network. I’m Paul Jay in Baltimore. In the Congo, a report says there is a mutiny going on amongst the Congolese army. This is a report from the United Nations. An interim report or a version of that report was released on Friday, but some of the people that were involved in the committee of experts that wrote that report have leaked that there’s more to it, and it has to do with Rwandan interference in the Congo. And if so, that wouldn’t be something new. Now joining us to talk about all of this is Maurice Carney. He’s the executive director and co-founder of Friends of the Congo, and he joins us now from our D.C. office. Thanks for joining us, Maurice.
MAURICE CARNEY:
Hi. It’s a pleasure to be with you today.
Hi. It’s a pleasure to be with you today.
JAY:
So, first of all, what do we know of the facts of the situation?
So, first of all, what do we know of the facts of the situation?
CARNEY:
Well, the facts as reported by the United Nations and by Human Rights Watch basically state that the mutinous group in the east of the Congo, the rebels that have been destabilizing the country since early spring, where over 200,000 Congolese have been displaced, are being supported by the Rwandan government in terms of training, arming, logistical support. And this is consistent with a pattern over the past 15 years where Rwanda has either invaded the Congo or rebel groups inside the Congo have destabilized the country. In addition to this consistent support over the last 15 years, another staple of over the last 15 years has been the United States covering for Rwanda whenever it has gotten involved in the Congo.
Well, the facts as reported by the United Nations and by Human Rights Watch basically state that the mutinous group in the east of the Congo, the rebels that have been destabilizing the country since early spring, where over 200,000 Congolese have been displaced, are being supported by the Rwandan government in terms of training, arming, logistical support. And this is consistent with a pattern over the past 15 years where Rwanda has either invaded the Congo or rebel groups inside the Congo have destabilized the country. In addition to this consistent support over the last 15 years, another staple of over the last 15 years has been the United States covering for Rwanda whenever it has gotten involved in the Congo.
JAY:
And why do they?
CARNEY:
Well, you know, nations function on interests. Some people say, well, the U.S. is guilty because it did not do enough during the genocide in ’94. But the U.S. has strategic and economic interests in central African region, and Rwanda, among a number of other nations in that part of the world, protect and carry out U.S. interests in the region. So whenever Rwanda is called to account by the international community, the United States usually runs interference so that there are no sanctions brought against the Rwandan government.
Well, you know, nations function on interests. Some people say, well, the U.S. is guilty because it did not do enough during the genocide in ’94. But the U.S. has strategic and economic interests in central African region, and Rwanda, among a number of other nations in that part of the world, protect and carry out U.S. interests in the region. So whenever Rwanda is called to account by the international community, the United States usually runs interference so that there are no sanctions brought against the Rwandan government.
JAY: And what are the effects on the people living there in terms of what you describe as destabilization?
CARNEY: The effects are devastating. As I shared with you, 200,000 people have been displaced. Really, since Rwanda invaded Congo in 1996, millions of Congolese have perished, hundreds of thousands of women have been systematically raped and Congo’s wealth has been looted. So the impact of Rwanda’s role in destabilizing the Congo has been tragic for the people of the region and especially the Congolese people.
And this is really the sad part about the whole situation, because it’s within the means of the United States to hold its ally accountable, but it has not done so to date. We’ve had countries like Sweden and Netherlands who have withheld aid from Rwanda because of Rwanda’s activities inside Congo. But the United States has yet to hold to account Rwanda
JAY:
What does Rwanda gain? Why is this in Rwandans’ interest to so destabilize this section of the Congo?
What does Rwanda gain? Why is this in Rwandans’ interest to so destabilize this section of the Congo?
CARNEY:
Rwanda’s interests are several-fold. And one, in their destabilizing the Congo, Rwanda is able to continue to benefit from Congo’s riches. Both Dow Jones and Bloomberg news have reported Rwanda has gained hundreds of millions of dollars in trading Congo’s minerals, its coltan and tin in particular. Bloomberg News said that Rwanda was one of two top traders of Congo’s conflict minerals – you know, tin, tungsten, and tantalum.
Rwanda’s interests are several-fold. And one, in their destabilizing the Congo, Rwanda is able to continue to benefit from Congo’s riches. Both Dow Jones and Bloomberg news have reported Rwanda has gained hundreds of millions of dollars in trading Congo’s minerals, its coltan and tin in particular. Bloomberg News said that Rwanda was one of two top traders of Congo’s conflict minerals – you know, tin, tungsten, and tantalum.
JAY:
But how are they doing this? Are they making deals directly with these mutinous soldiers? Or how are they doing this?
But how are they doing this? Are they making deals directly with these mutinous soldiers? Or how are they doing this?
CARNEY:
Well, I mean, the rebel groups control mines. They have access to the mines. And they, you know, gather the resources that are mined and are then shipped across the Rwandan border without Congo taxing it; or it’s actually smuggled into Rwanda and then Rwanda sells it to the global market. As long as the Congolese state doesn’t have full control of over the east of the country and the borders are porous, then it’s like an open-air supermarket where Rwanda and Uganda can come in and basically take at will Congo’s gold, its tin, its coltan, its wolframite, and trade it in their own countries as if it was produced by Rwanda itself or produced by Uganda. So that’s been the pattern since 1996 when both Rwanda and Uganda invaded Congo.
Well, I mean, the rebel groups control mines. They have access to the mines. And they, you know, gather the resources that are mined and are then shipped across the Rwandan border without Congo taxing it; or it’s actually smuggled into Rwanda and then Rwanda sells it to the global market. As long as the Congolese state doesn’t have full control of over the east of the country and the borders are porous, then it’s like an open-air supermarket where Rwanda and Uganda can come in and basically take at will Congo’s gold, its tin, its coltan, its wolframite, and trade it in their own countries as if it was produced by Rwanda itself or produced by Uganda. So that’s been the pattern since 1996 when both Rwanda and Uganda invaded Congo.
JAY:
And what’s the role of the international mining companies in this conflict?
And what’s the role of the international mining companies in this conflict?
CARNEY: Well, the roles of the international mining companies are several. One, they purchase the elicit minerals from Rwanda and from Uganda. Two, because you have a weakened Congolese state, they’re also able to enter into contracts with that Congo state and benefit tremendously from the natural resources of the Congo. So there are many beneficiaries. You have the Rwandan government, military officials in Rwanda, multinational corporations, elites in the Congo itself, and they all benefit at the expense of the Congolese people, who are suffering tremendously from the instability that’s been fostered and supported by the Rwandan regime.
JAY:
Now, when President Obama was Senator Obama, didn’t he actually propose a bill or support a bill that would call for more accountability for Rwanda and Uganda? And what’s his record on that if that’s right?
Now, when President Obama was Senator Obama, didn’t he actually propose a bill or support a bill that would call for more accountability for Rwanda and Uganda? And what’s his record on that if that’s right?
CARNEY:
Yes, he actually sponsored a bill that was passed into law in 2006, signed into law by George Bush, Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act, which was also co-sponsored by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, to date, since President Obama’s been in office he hasn’t acted on that law. There’s a particular section of the law that calls on the secretary of state to hold Congo’s neighbours accountable, provided that there’s sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the Congo’s neighbours are involved in destabilizing the country. And there’s an abundance of evidence. There’s more than enough evidence. In fact, I was sharing with you earlier that both Sweden and the Netherlands withheld aid from Rwanda because of the evidence that was produced that demonstrated that Rwanda was destabilizing the Congo. So here it is that two European nations that do not have such a law on their books, they’re acting.
Yes, he actually sponsored a bill that was passed into law in 2006, signed into law by George Bush, Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act, which was also co-sponsored by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, to date, since President Obama’s been in office he hasn’t acted on that law. There’s a particular section of the law that calls on the secretary of state to hold Congo’s neighbours accountable, provided that there’s sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the Congo’s neighbours are involved in destabilizing the country. And there’s an abundance of evidence. There’s more than enough evidence. In fact, I was sharing with you earlier that both Sweden and the Netherlands withheld aid from Rwanda because of the evidence that was produced that demonstrated that Rwanda was destabilizing the Congo. So here it is that two European nations that do not have such a law on their books, they’re acting.
JAY:
What is the American attitude, then, towards this UN report? Because if this report actually went public and did contain the things that the leak says it does or should contain, in theory, wouldn’t that trigger the legislation?
What is the American attitude, then, towards this UN report? Because if this report actually went public and did contain the things that the leak says it does or should contain, in theory, wouldn’t that trigger the legislation?
CARNEY:
Well, it should certainly trigger the legislation – not the legislation, the law. It’s law. It should trigger the law. And the U.S. response has been shocking, because really this is the situation that we have. We have rebel groups inside the Congo led by one Bosco Ntaganda, who’s wanted by the International Criminal Court. So rebel groups hereto were committing crimes, and these rebel groups are been supported by Rwanda. And then we have the United States that’s covering for Rwanda. So for all intents and purposes, the United States is supporting rebel groups inside of Congo that are wanted by the International Criminal Court, because they have blocked and delayed reports coming out and covered for Rwanda. Even when the U.S. issued a statement – the U.S. ambassador in Congo issued a statement about the rebel groups, and they didn’t even mention Rwanda by name. They said those outside forces that are supporting rebel groups should be held to account. They didn’t even mention Rwanda’s name. Today even the Rwandan foreign minister was at the United Nations, and the arrogance with which he spoke, as if Rwanda is not involved at all – it’s just incredible that the United States is putting its neck out as it is, to be embarrassed in the global community for supporting rebel groups inside the Congo through [its support of] Rwanda.
Well, it should certainly trigger the legislation – not the legislation, the law. It’s law. It should trigger the law. And the U.S. response has been shocking, because really this is the situation that we have. We have rebel groups inside the Congo led by one Bosco Ntaganda, who’s wanted by the International Criminal Court. So rebel groups hereto were committing crimes, and these rebel groups are been supported by Rwanda. And then we have the United States that’s covering for Rwanda. So for all intents and purposes, the United States is supporting rebel groups inside of Congo that are wanted by the International Criminal Court, because they have blocked and delayed reports coming out and covered for Rwanda. Even when the U.S. issued a statement – the U.S. ambassador in Congo issued a statement about the rebel groups, and they didn’t even mention Rwanda by name. They said those outside forces that are supporting rebel groups should be held to account. They didn’t even mention Rwanda’s name. Today even the Rwandan foreign minister was at the United Nations, and the arrogance with which he spoke, as if Rwanda is not involved at all – it’s just incredible that the United States is putting its neck out as it is, to be embarrassed in the global community for supporting rebel groups inside the Congo through [its support of] Rwanda.
JAY:
Thanks very much for joining us, Maurice.
CARNEY:
Al right. Thank you.
Al right. Thank you.
Πηγή
Rwanda's Paul Kagame warned he may be charged with aiding war crimes...
Congo conflict: 'The Terminator' lives in luxury while peacekeepers look on