International
A 'pan African' organization sowing insecurity in African countries
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.