There was something terribly wrong about the report. Our group had just come from a meeting with Nkunda at his compound near Jomba where he had been very much in control. There was an easy way to confirm that the BBC report was wrong. We called Nkunda on his cell phone. Nkunda at Jomba Photo: G. Nkunda said that Ntaganda had as many as 36 troops with him, but had not staged a successful coup.
This was not the first time that lies formed the basis of statecraft in the case of Laurent Nkunda. Was he a renegade rebel, freedom fighter, dissident, murderer, saint, or savior? Truth, quote unquote, was whatever the international media and factional interests decreed. This template of "truth" was forged in international strategic and military interests in the Great Lakes region, not to mention gold, coltan, tin, diamonds and oil.
China was also silently waiting in the wings for the spoils and Nkunda viewed the Chinese as a threat to his country's heritage and wealth -- a robber baron of the future of Congolese children. The Economist and the British press commented: "The sale of mining licenses at below-market value to firms associated with friends of the president has raised eyebrows. In three years, no one has heard from Nkunda after his betrayal by Rwanda's Paul Kagame in a mutually beneficial alliance with Congo's Joseph Kabila.
Paul Kagame's press office has not responded to repeated requests for an interview. Against the advice of advisors, Nkunda went willingly to a meeting called in Rwanda to consider peace talks.
Associates suspected a trap, and they were correct. But a "renegade" general "on the run" is a compelling story. Rwanda sent thousands of troops into Congo on Tuesday as part of a joint agreement to eradicate Rwandan Hutu rebels based across the border and quench a revolt by Tutsis against Kinshasa.
Nkunda, a Tutsi ex-general, had been silent since top commanders of his National Congress for the Defence of the People CNDP movement defected and went over to Congolese forces last week, saying their conflict with Kinshasa was over.
A journalist in Bunangana on Thursday saw some CNDP troops moving through the town but preparations being made for defending the town. The rebels control much of eastern Congo but since Tuesday they have been cooperating with the Congolese army. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.
This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without. By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Sunday, November 14, World Africa. All Sections. Image Credit: AP. View gallery as list. More From Africa. Legendary novelist Wilbur Smith dies aged I think the start of this co-operation was a month ago.
The possible split in the CNDP had given an indication to the Congolese government that this is the time, maybe, to address the Nkunda issue. We also know that last Friday an agreement was signed between the government of the DRC and the breakaway faction under the leadership of chief of staff General John Bosco [Ntaganda] and all military commanders.
Within three days, the Rwandans were crossing the border and were in the DRC. The Congolese government started talking to the Rwandan government on December 4 last year and agreed to carry out a joint operation against the FDLR.
I think the concern was that Nkunda was becoming too ambitious [with] remarks that he was not interested any more in the stability and protection of the minority in North Kivu, but was interested in the whole of the DRC.
He was saying he will protect the people of the DRC. There had been a great deal of international pressure in to solve this problem. But there were a lot of allegations of support to Nkunda from inside Rwanda. I think the beginning of the end was last year when Nkunda overran North Kivu and chased the Congolese army. I was listening to the [Congolese] minister of information Mende [Omalange] and he said they will now contact Rwandan authorities and try to get him extradited to Congo as soon as possible.
Secondly, if he is extradited and charged, what will the reaction in the DRC be? I am also concerned that it is not only General Nkunda who has to be charged. I think war crimes go back to and even before , when General Nkunda was in RCD-Goma, one of the military factions.
His commander, the current Congolese army chief, General [Gabriel] Amisi, was chief of the military area in Kisangani where people who mutinied were killed and thrown in the river.
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