Rwanda’s military intervention in Africa rebrands continent’s image

Author: Emma Mukasa

• 2023-05-07 04:48:00

Following the end of European colonialism in Africa in the late 1950s and 1960s, it was believed that the continent would turn into little a heaven for Africans. Controlling their own resources, owning back their land, being free from slavery, living a better life, and choosing their leaders was their longtime dream.

However, more than 60 years later, around 460 million Africans live below the global poverty line. They represent more than 70 percent of the world’s poorest people. Africa faces many challenges like cultural conflicts and ethnic cleansing, which directly affect its impoverished status in the world.

To date, more than a dozen African countries face insecurity and conflict. In 2021 alone, there were six coup attempts on the continent, four of them successful.

An intense political crisis, insurgency, and terrorism are some of the factors that followed the colonial period in Africa, resulting into corruption, greed for power and wealth, mismanagement of resources, and most importantly, lack of unity among African nations.

Unlike the Western world, rarely did the 54 African nations and eight regional communities of the African Union support each other and successfully restore lasting peace in countries with unrest. The United Nations deployed troops to protect civilians and reduce some of the worst consequences of war but they are often deeply flawed.

However, a small landlocked country in East Africa, Rwanda, recently produced a unique and bold solution to conflicts on the continent.

The country is restoring peace by independently deploying troops at the invitation of a host state’s leader. By becoming Africa’s counter-terrorism powerhouse, Rwanda is making a significant break in the history of post-colonial Sub-Saharan Africa. From West to Central to Southern Africa.

In December 2020, under a bilateral agreement, Rwanda deployed troops in the Central African Republic (CAR) to quell election violence and protect peacekeepers. The call came after the rebels aligned with François Bozizé, former president of CAR, from 2003 until 2013, were advancing on Bangui, the country’s capital to delay elections and oust president Faustin-Archange Touadera who was seeking reelection.

When Rwanda got the call to stop the rebel advance, they reacted fast. Within 48 hours, Rwanda sent their competent and well-trained troops to Bangui. Within a month, security forces backed by Rwanda and Russia not only beat the rebel blockade of the capital to enable aid but also ultimately captured the rebel stronghold.

After almost one year, in July 2021, Rwanda also deployed troops in Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, at the invitation of President Filipe Nyusi, to help fight the terrorists, stabilize the area and restore the authority of the state.

The Mozambican government had been fighting ISIS-linked terrorist group since 2017 but failed to rout them. President Nyusi spent an estimated $154 million on private military companies such as Russia’s Wagner Group to support the nation’s army but failed to improve the situation. Militants continued to grow in strength, capturing towns like the key port city of Mocímboa da Praia, and carrying out periodic attacks along the Tanzanian border.

The conflict took over 3,700 lives and forced more than 800,000 people to flee their homes.

Barely two weeks after landing, Rwandan and Mozambican forces were circling major bases of the terrorists and capturing them, in quick succession. Within one month, they took back the port of Mocímboa da Praia from the jihadists who had controlled the port for over a year.

The joint Rwandan and Mozambican forces secured their area of responsibility and moved citizens back into the area they control. People started working and engaging in all other socio-economic activities after five years living in fear and suffering due to terrorism.

It was only through Rwanda's successful intervention that the restarting of a $20 billion (€17 billion) liquefied natural gas project operated by French energy giant Total, can be contemplated.

It is also more likely that Rwanda could send its troops to northern regions of the West African country, Benin, to fight jihadists that have wreaked havoc in the Sahel region.

After being abandoned by the International community during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda learned an important lesson. This is what drives the nation in helping other African countries to restore peace and security as well as build the spirit of African solidarity.

Rwandans seek to work hard towards self-reliance because the time for depending on others is no more. In 1994, Rwandans learned that they can only rely on themselves. They know that self-reliance does not mean no cooperation and, as such, they have to work with others.

Modern Rwanda is founded on Rwandans' common identity as one people. Rwanda today does not discriminate. It values the contribution of every Rwandan. It cooperates with nations in Africa and beyond.

Today, Rwanda is a dignified nation not just recognized in the region, but also across the world.

Rwandans' achievements are founded on their unity. Their history taught them the lesson that their past should not be their future.

Rwandans are writing a new destiny for their nation, one based on unity, hard work, truth and self-reliance. And this is the spirit that Africa, and Africans, need to embrace.