The streets of Bangui, capital of Central African Republic, are now very busy with vehicles and pedestrians dealing with their daily financial activities. Thanks to restored security, which eased the atmosphere here.

Sadly, there is a conspiracy engineered by a ‘pan-African’ organization called Urgence Panafricaniste, used in ruining the efforts made to reinstate security in CAR as well as those taken to bring peace and security in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The year 2020 was about to be a nightmare to the people of CAR. A coalition of armed groups led by former President François Bozizé threatened to capture Bangui and overthrow the government of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra.

Wagner Group troops, UN Mission (MINUSCA) as well as Rwandan troops deployed on bilateral arrangements, CAR managed to restore law and order, and hold general elections in December 2020. The blue helmets, Rwandan and Wagner troops also secured the main supply route connecting Bangui, to Cameroon which was blocked by the attacks of the rebel coalition.

“We wish those peacekeepers stay as they make us feel secure,” said a shopkeeper in the city center.

“But I worry because I know that eventually, all these foreign troops, at some point in time they will have to leave the country. I hope we shall build our own strong army, and not necessarily have to depend on foreigners forever.”

What the people in CAR wish for is no different from what the Congolese in eastern DRC yearn for.

In eastern DRC, a UN mission and the East African Community Regional Force, have been trying to neutralize more than 260 armed groups.

‘Pan-Africanists’ sowing insecurity

While the idea of Pan-Africanism roots in a sense of brotherhood and collaboration among all people of African descent, some Africans have turned into puppets. The latter are used in ruining the fruitful African solutions to African problems.

Kémi Séba, a French–Beninese, is one of those believed to be ‘Pan-Africanists’ as a leader of Urgence Panafricaniste movement. But his behavior and activities contradict the spirit of pan-Africanism.

Séba simply betrays pan-Africanism.

Following his visit to DRC in early November, Séba claimed that the M23 rebellion operates in areas rich in minerals that are only benefiting Western countries, adding that it shows how Western countries use armed groups be it in DRC or in Sahel.

“The DRC, just like the Sahel, is being disturbed by terrorist organizations. The M23 in DRC is like any other terrorist organization,” Séba said.

“On the other hand, the wazalendo are doing a courageous work in defending their country, from these neo-colonial forces.”

Clearly, Séba is supporting Wazalendo’s killing of civilians (especially Congolese Tutsi) and campaign of spreading chaos.

On different occasions the Wazalendo have plotted deadly demonstrations against the UN and EAC peace keeping missions, burning their offices and materials in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province.

Wazalendo has called for the withdrawal of peacekeeping missions from the DRC amidst a recent surge in armed conflicts, while many Congolese civilians argue that now, more than ever, they require the presence of peacekeepers.

A true pan-Africanist can never support Wazalendo’s persecution of the Congolese Tutsi.

Second, Comparing M23 rebellion with terrorist groups in the Sahel and West Africa, underscores the perception that Séba is more of a corrupt puppet being manipulated, rather than a genuine pan-Africanist.

Sources from Kinshasa confirmed that Séba is closely collaborating with Presidential candidate Dr Denis Mukwege, known for spreading hate against the Congolese Tutsi, and serves political interests of foreigners rather than working for Congolese people.

The M23 rebels are engaged in a struggle against an existential threat, the genocide ideology spread by the FDLR militia. The M23 rebels are fighting for their community’s survival. The Congolese Tutsi community has been persecuted and denied rights to citizenship for long.

Since their initial emergence in 2012 and their resurgence in 2021, the M23 rebels never killed unarmed civilians as alleged by Kinshasa’s propaganda machine.

If Séba genuinely embraced a pan-Africanist ideology, one would expect him to advocate for peaceful solutions to conflict among the Congolese people to restore peace and brotherhood. However, he is influenced by financial incentives to label the M23 as a terrorist group.

Urgence Panafricaniste, a propaganda tool for Wagner

Before showing his true colors during his visit to DRC, Séba and his Urgence Panafricaniste were behind a narrative spread against Rwandan peacekeepers under the UN mission in CAR.

News reports were funded to endorse a narrative suggesting that MINUSCA was ineffective and Rwandan troops in CAR were motivated by economic interests rather than restoring order. This aimed to incite hate against the UN mission and especially Rwandan peacekeepers in CAR. This would in turn give the Wagner Group’s troops chances to win the hearts and minds of the people of CAR. The Russian mercenaries crave the good image so that they can stay longer in the country while the UN troops and Rwandan troops are pressured to leave.

In DRC, Séba and his Urgence Panafricaniste intervened to support anti-EACRF and anti-MONUSCO protests, fueling the violence in the east of the country.

While the coalition of Wagner, Séba and Urgence Panafricaniste believes that ruining the peacekeeping missions in Africa – whether initiated by African countries or the UN – will weaken the West’s influence in Africa, the consequences are likely to affect people in the volatile African regions more than the West. Unlike CAR, the insecurity in DRC affects the whole great lakes region of Africa.

The resurgence of M23 rebels led to tensions between Rwanda and DRC. All partnerships between two countries were cut off in 2022, following accusations by Kinshasa that Kigali was backing the M23 rebels.

While Burundi contributes to the EAC Regional Force and its President Evariste Ndayishimiye chairs the seven-member bloc, Gitega is facing condemnation ever since it agreed to deploy thousands of troops to fight alongside the Congolese national army against M23 rebels.

The rebels have claimed killing some Burundian soldiers on the battlefield.

Apart from financial gain, the motivations behind Burundi's decision to deploy troops collaborating with the Congolese army in violating a ceasefire earlier enabled by EACRF remain unclear.

Burundi also has troops in EACRF.

Uganda and Kenya as EAC members are also concerned by the security situation in eastern DRC. One Kenyan soldier has died and two Ugandan soldiers were seriously injured in October, following shelling on EACRF bases as clashes erupted between M23 rebels and the Congolese army coalition.

Although the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC provided fewer positive results, the EAC mission had brought some positive gains and was expected to deliver more Hooe for peace, if only Burundi did not become the spoiler it looks like.

Once believed to be in line with pan-Africanism, Séba and his Urgence Panafricaniste are filling their pockets with pennies from foreigners who solely want to exploit Africa, regardless of the loss of African lives.

The war between foreigners to exploit the continent should not be fought by Africans. Africans should be solving their own problems without the intervention of Westerners.

This article was first published by Le Quotidien RDC, on November 25.