Euphoria has been spreading within the Congolese army over the past several days, as its officers declare victory against the mutineers led by Bosco Ntaganda. Over the weekend, their troops took control of key towns in the Masisi highlands, perhaps making this this first time since the beginning of the RCD war in 1998 that Kinshasa might have effective control over this CNDP heartland. The self-congratulatory mood was enhanced by the fact that many Congolese officers have resented the ex-CNDP power and privilege within the army, positions that they obtained precisely because Kinshasa had been unable to defeat them fully before.
While rumors abound, it appears that many of the mutineers have surrendered, as was the case of several dozen around Kitchanga and Kilolirwe, according to the Congolese army; or been arrested, as was the case of Lt Col Djuma and his soldiers, who were captured in South Kivu yesterday. Bosco himself and some of his troops are reported to be in the Virunga National Park, behind the Nyamulagira volcano, while others were sighted close to the Rwandan border.
What comes next? As one might expect, this game is not yet over. In a communiqué signed by Gen. Dider Etumba, the army announced that it was suspending operations until Wednesday to give the mutineers time to surrender. Just a day later, however, a new communiqué was emailed around (using the same email listserv as Nkunda's CNDP used), announcing a new "current" within the CNDP called M23, a reference to the March 23, 2009 Agreement between the CNDP and the government.
Several things are interesting about this communiqué. First, it accuses the previous CNDP leadership of not overseeing the implementation of the March 23 Agreement (more on that agreement here), so perhaps Senator Mwangachuchu has been fired after just several months as CNDP president. Secondly, it places Colonel Makenga in charge of M23, which appears to be identical to the CNDP, as all officers are ordered to obey only to Colonel Makenga. Which begs the question: What about Bosco? (It also can be perceived as a dig against Colonel Innocent Gahizi, who is the main CNDP officer who has stayed loyal to Kinshasa).
Secondly, the document is issued on a CNDP-ANC letterhead. The ANC was the military wing of the CNDP under Nkunda and has not, to my knowledge, been referenced since the latter's arrest in early 2009. Moreover, under the March 23 Agreement the CNDP agreed to become a purely political organization and not to get involved in military affairs (it's soldiers were, officially at least, integrated into the army). So this new movement is supposed to "redynamize the application" of an agreement that this very declaration would appear to violate?
Lastly, and most importantly, it appears that the crisis may not be over. Most of the senior leadership of the mutiny is still at large (Col Baudouin, Col Makenga, Lt Col Zimurinda, Lt Col Kaina, Lt Col Masozera, Lt Col Butoni,...). Since it has lost its foothold in Masisi, it will have to regroup elsewhere. If it does not receive outside help, it will probably falter. Hence many Congolese officers are currently pointing toward Rwanda, accusing its army of supporting the mutineers.
Rwanda's official position has been that this is a Congolese affair. Its stance will be crucial in determining the outcome of this crisis and the future of the ex-CNDP networks in the Kivus.
Monday, May 7, 2012
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42 comments:
Idk, let's me play the devil's advocate.,lol. I think 48 h its a mistake. Too much time given for a counterattack. The fardc., I believe,should be magnanimous in victory and pave the way to a real integration. General obedi is an excellent example., I think., of subduing a formidable opponent.
Let's wait n see. As msgr monsengwo quoted : timeo danaos et donna ferentes.
Very funny and typically Rwandan reaction can be found on the New Times website, here: http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=14986&a=53370
In short, the evil West wants the not so evil Bosco arrested in order to divert the attention from its involvement in the destabilization of Eastern DRC. By targetting Bosco, the evil west indirectly targets the great Rwanda for being too independent and not servile enough. Bla bla, not an ounce of fact here, but a lot of propaganda that doesn't inform us of anything. As usual in the DRC, let's wait and see to know the final outcome of this "new old" rebellion.
H.
pole sana Blaise, tes souhaits ne seront jamais exaucés beleive me ... time will tell. What do you mean by real integration.Be more explicit.
Xinhua: Rwanda supports political solution to DR Congo clash
KIGALI, -- Rwanda says it supports a political solution, rather than a military approach, to an ongoing fight between militias loyal to renegade Gen. Bosco Ntaganda and the government forces FARDC in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
The statement was made on Monday by the spokesman of Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF), Brig. Gen. Joseph Nzamwita at a press conference in the capital Kigali.
Responding to the question of whether or not the RDF would intervene in the huntdown on Gen. Ntaganda being wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, Brig. Gen Nzamwita said, "We RDF view DR Cong issues as totally internal, but would be in position to play a mediating role if requested to. "
The RDF defense chief, Lt.Gen. Charles Kayonga and his Congolese counterpart Lt. Gen. Didier Etumba met Wednesday at Rwanda's border area of Rubavu to discuss a peaceful resolution to the escalating tension in the eastern region of DR Congo.
One of the issues of concern discussed by the two army chiefs was the Rwandan Hutu rebel FDLR, which has been holed up in the east of DR Congo since the 1994 massacre and is likely to take advantage of the situation to re-arm and destabilize Rwanda's security.
"We are so mindful of the hardship the refugee Congolese people are going through as a result of the conflict, just as we concerned of the possibility of the re-arming and re-organizing of the FDLR in the DR Congo," said Brig. Gen. Nzamwita in an interview with Xinhua.
"As the UN peacekeeping force pick up their arms to join forces with DR Congo's FARDC, sources in Rwanda's security agencies believe that the FDLR is re-arming and re-grouping suspiciously with the help of DR Congo government, to fight the renegade Gen. Bosco Ntaganda and his loyalists who defected from DR Congo's FARDC," Nzamwita said.
Ntaganda used to be the deputy of Laurent Nkunda, the leader of the rebel National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) , who was arrested in January 2009 in Rwanda while fleeing a joint military crackdown by the two neighboring countries in the eastern part of DR Congo. Ntaganda and his men were later integrated into FARDC.
Since April 29, FARDC and the men loyal to Ntanganda have been fighting in the eastern region of Masisi, displacing more than 500, 000 people.
On Sunday, FARDC said it had regained control of almost all villages of the Masisi territory in the North Kivu province, vowing to go on with its operation to track down the rebels, mostly former members of the CNDP headed by Nkunda and Ntanganda.
Relations between DR Congo and Rwanda were once shadowed by the CNDP, with Kigali accusing Kinshasa backing the FDLR and Kinshasa blaming Kigali for support to the CNDP.
The two neighbors in late 2008 decided to cooperate in the crackdown on both the CNDP and FDLR. The CNDP was quickly routed and its leader Nkunda took flight to Rwanda, where he was arrested.
After reading the article and comments, I have realised that every body seems to be a manipulation tool. Who surrendered? who fought the so called muteneers? where are they? what kind of loyalty for Colonel Gahizi? is that what you call loyalty? if a long term solution is not found for the estern Congo's problem, Jason and company will write more articles in the future!
@ anonymous May 8, 2012 4:46 AM you should add this "Jason and Company are fully insured to have job as "UN Expert for the region".At least they will not be affected by the current global crisis.
It is difficult to understand why some people are angry about the tremendous work Jason is doing. We should be grateful to have this space where I can get bona fides information and discuss with people who are rooting for the peace and love in Congo.
Those who are here for propaganda and hatred should leave us by our own
@ anon MAY 8, 2012 2:35 AM,
LOl, I know, it would not happen, the emg will probably be triumphalist, there will be men hunts and the probably a lot of people will be executed.
By real integration I meant picking the most valuable soldiers in those rebellions, demobilize the rest and scatter the whole inside the republic.
Whoever negotiated before should know that it's a unsustainable solution to keep all those mutineers in place or to reward bullying : bad PR and bad for the discipline in the army.
From:JeanBaptiste706@gmail.com
Bonjour Mr. Stearns,
Je voudrais communiquer avec toi
this is da end. enough of humiliation 4 us congolese
the suffering of our people is a big business for international media (so-called congo experts and NGOs). We r belittled daily and our voices are severely drowned out. After nigerians, congolese are the most educated, traveled and adventurous in africa. But when have u seen congolese talking congo on CNN or reuters. We have numerous congolese professors at universities in the West, just in the US(emeritus profs of african politics Valentin mudimbe, yewawa, nzongola ntalaja...) . As eveil as he is, have u seen J kabila beeing interviewed on these media. We congolese know from history. when they want to kill us, they turn us into monsters, (Leopold 2 said we r canibals and killed 10 millions), P Kagame and his minerals instigators say we r rapists and killed 6 millions.
muanacongo
muanacongo....so...Joseph Kabila does interviews now?
@ anonymous at 10:22
Get me no wrong, i am not a j kabila fan. I am just saying that we r overly used to the anti-congo propaganda, congo bashing and the narrative of congolese monstruosity. Because there has been such a tragedy in congo, why cant we hear congolese voices. Because, mind u congolese argue on everything but the dignity of our people and the integrity of our land. In fact, the opposition to kabila (tshisekedi & congolese diaspora of combattants) r more radical than kabila. They blame him for having sold us out. The problem of kabila with the west is not good governance, lie! Its because he is too independant for an african. He deals directly with chine in mining.He reviews mining rights, which is unheard of in africa. As an african u r supposed to give them minerals for free, and receive personal crambles in swiss banks. If kabila can give Colette braeckman of le soir and ivone ndege of aljezeera interviews, he can give cnn and reuters interviews.
muanacongo
At the end of the day, news networks like CNN are a business, and they will do what they can for $$$. I get sick an tired of people who say that Congolese have no voice...just because crappy news services like CNN don't interview Joseph Kabila. If you go to CNN.com right now you will read NOTHING on the current eastern congo crisis. Why have CNN pretend to care about Congo when they don't? People who watch CNN aren't interested in the Congo. If Bosco didn't have a fancy nickname like "THE TERMINATOR" CNN would never put an AP report on Bosco up. People who actually care about the congo will hear the congolese voices like Mvemba Dizolele, Kambale, Dr. Nzongola, etc.
I know what you're thinking...maybe if CNN DID do an interview with JK and let congolese tell their story people would care...
While this is true, again, at the end of the day, CNN is a business and there is no money in for them to do that, so they won't. Who cares if some american's dont know. Congolese are strong and smart, and don't need America's compassion. There is no money in reporting the truth about Congo, Syria, Cambodia etc., and while it would be nice, it would be foolish to expect a business like CNN to start suddenly caring.
Ignore all the "rape capital of the world" articles and anti-congo propaganda and focus on the positive.
ICC hype on Ntaganda is just another propaganda by Western Powers! What about Bashir of Sudan? What about FDLR? Same game, divide and rule, the African Great Lakes wealth is desired by every continent on planet, with the West leading!
@Muanacongo..
Can you count for me how many Pilot Congolese, scientists Congolese or Congolese top officials in UN posts you can find?
I think Ethiopians, Egyptians and Some Nigerians are seems to be the most genius citizens you can find in Africa.
Check it out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African_scientists,_inventors,_and_scholars
Congolese are good in lecturing and convincing how to make money out of you-That is why you see corruption and selfishness is getting worst there.
Some one need to change this country in to English speaking country in order to save the coming generation.
The culture and characteristics which the Belgian left behind, is no longer coming out of our mind.
TD
@ Muana congo,
really interesting perspective you are offering here. I believe that the world will listen to you if they perceive that you have something to say. I don't think we are doing a good job raising the situation in Congo in the same level as Darfur or Rwanda. I believe there have been some kind of campaign of disinformation in regard in this situation. We just had Ben Affleck so far. Better than nothing I guess. we just don't count. We are too poor, not to sexy.
T o talk about JK, I don't think it's just congo bashing here. I think that LDK and Jk failed to portray themselves as soldiers of the people. There are a lot of allegation of them accumulating huge fortune.
@ TD, I think wikipedia doesn't qualify as a scientific source of information. This list looks more like " my favorite people" than any repertoire of current and past scientist. I even see entrepreneurs there! I personally know more than 10 university professors and scientists from Congo.
i believe that the belgian's basic education wasn't that bad( compare to the french,lol). We lack of morale and values more than anything. We need to rediscover our roots.
Just wanted to highlight what I believe could be a very significant development.
British MP's to Launch Investigation in Congo Mining Deals (The Guardian, UK)
http://apps.facebook.com/theguardian/business/2012/may/08/mining-firms-congo-deals
Just a few quick thoughts on this:
a) The UK group FreeFairDRC and Global Witness are doing some damn fine advocacy.
b) If the Congolese opposition do anything, they should take a page- hell, the whole damn book- from their Ugandan and Tanzanian compadres and follow suit with similar investigations.
c) If this turns out to be big, I can't imagine a conservative government and the Congo's 2nd largest aid donor wouldn't begin to engage in some hard conditions on how future aid is disbursed.
d) I'm slightly disappointed groups here in the US aren't engaging in the same stuff particularly given "Occupy" and how its narrative fits potential wrong bad behavior by multinationals. Perhaps activists here, given the willingness of our reps to speak to us as E-Day approaches, should schedule meetings with our Reps?
Now back to the topic de jure....
I've heard that over 500,000 people have been displaced in the Eastern Congo?
Is this true??!!!
Does someone have a solid #? Jason? others?
Mel
@Mel - Last I read was that 300,000 people had been displaced since the start of the year, making the total amount of displaced around 2 million across the country (mostly in the east, I assume). UNHCR said 20,000 people had been displaced as of May 4th, due to the current conflict. But those numbers could have gone much higher. The numbers are just crazy. Then there is the conundrum of the rights people are afforded based on if they become refugees or not. As of last week, there were some 38,000 IDPs who were cut off from aid in Masisi and Walikale. It's a bad, bad situation that quite honestly doesn't get enough coverage.
Report from Head of Virguna says Bosco in forest with FIFTEEN HUNDREN men. Jason admits that figure seems very high however.
http://gorillacd.org/2012/05/09/rebel-militias-enter-mountain-gorilla-sector/
@BradLehigh
Rwanda needs to upgrade its security!!! like i said before the consequences will be far worse for Rwanda~~!!! I survived the first genocide! Thanks to God,, im a so called tutsi, but im for unity, im against these primitive living, and politics based on ethnies and the so called politique du ventre!! it has to stop, and the youth needs to get together and bring on the la nouvelle releve!!! SVP sensibilizez vos enfants, vos jeunes contre le racisme, mais pour la lutte contre la pauvrete et la guerre.
Less hope though that the change that we so hope and strive for , is knocking on the doors of the Great Lakes. Especially Rwanda!!
@Mel - Just pre-read someone's testimony on DRC conflict minerals for tomorrow's hearing. Mentioned the 500,000 number of IDPs in N. Kivu.
Oh my god...
Thanks, Anand.
Mel
Test
@Mel,
Thanks for the link...more good work by The Guardian which has done a series of articles on various mining deals in the DRC.
Good investigative journalism and the advocacy work by groups like Global Witness can help shine a light on the opaque world of business deals between multinational corporations and governments that are still in the process of establishing the rule of law and public accountability.
Bruce
Hello Mr. Stearns
Is it true that Rwanda sends 3000 troops to DRC?
I would also like to talk with you about impunity and the security sector reform in the DRC.
Feel free to contact me: docno87 [a] googlemail . com
With kind regards,
Stefan Eikenbusch
According to radio Okapi, M23 rebels are now occupying 3 localities. Runyori, Chanzu and Bikenge in Rutshuru...
Apparently they came from Virunga park the same place where it was believed bosco and his men were holed up. Fighting took around 2 hours and FARDC troupes when finally retreated.
No good. Why is the M23 not indicted? It is obvious that this is a continuation from where Jules Mutebusi left in 2004, continued by nkunda and left in 2009, then recently took over by bosco until 2012 and now it is sultani makenga; one can almost guess that if the same mistakes are made, by 2016 another rwandan mercenary?
Where is the pressure from the US? Where are those who pressed J K to go after bosco now and not later?...
Rich
Hi Jason, Can you comment on the relationship between Bosco and Makenga? Thank you.
jessica.hatcher@me.com
@Rich
We (Americans) are doing our best out here. The various activists groups here in Florida have met with many of our Congressional representatives to keep forcing the issue on the Congo on their radars.
We even have secured support and assistance from the Archbishop in Miami and Tampa- both of whom are friends of Monsengwo- to assist in addition to other local leaders.
But given what is likely to be a very contentious election cycle it is all getting drowned out by all the noise this is generating. And, for some truly depressing reason, everyone wants to talk about Sudan, getting Kony, sexual violence, etc.
It is so frustrating- particularly for our young student activists- but it is largely because we can't get their attention that we are finding it so hard to pressure them and therefore change or affect policy towards the Congo.
This is just the view from Florida- not sure how it is elsewhere. Congo tends not to be a partisan issue (though Republicans, given their evangelical base, tend to be more willing to listen i feel) so when we DO get their attention we tend to see movement.
But, even there, it is a snails pace.
I am coming to believe we must get African Americans to care MORE about the Congo-like they did with apartheid in South Africa. I believe this is key to making sure Congo is paramount in the minds of Democrats.
Without black Americans, Democrats cannot win elections. So, if they make policy toward the Congo a priority and make it clear they will withhold support if policy is not in keeping with assisting the Congolese than we would see some change akin to Jewish Americans and Israel.
It just can't be young students- God bless them- trying to push the Congo issue. Young Americans rarely vote so politicians just don't take them seriously.
Anyway, we are doing our best out here but, fundamentally, Congo activists in the states simply need more power to affect change.
Or alot of money to give to candidates to affect change...
Mel
@ Mel,
I always felt that Congo's cause is better served by Republicans than Democrats. Under Clinton, we had a tough time to convince the world that the wars against Mobutu and Kabila were in fact invasions.
Under Bush, we were able to advance our cause. Obama is helping but I feel he can do more.
Blaise
We Congolese commend you, Mel, for your and others in America love for our people. Yes, America has not always done good by the Congolese. But, American people are good and true- like Stearns. I too wonder why more black American do not lobby their representatives??!! And yes, it seem Republicans are more interested in Congo nation because of evangelical influence. Keep fighting for Congo in America, Mel! Do not give up! We cheer you!!- Marie
@ blaise and Marie,
Mel might be correct that at the grassroots level evangelical Republicans are more organized on Congo related issues - but I know plenty of evangelical Democrats who are just as committed. Effective lobbying is really a bipartisan effort.
Regarding US foreign policy I would concur that the Clinton Administration made some missteps in the 1996-98 period. However, it was Madeleine Albright and the late Richard Holbrooke who persuaded Jesse Helms that the American taxpayer should fund MONUC/MONUSCO (and he was a staunch critic of UN peacekeeping operations). It is easy to criticize the UN Mission in the DRC - but its deployment was essential to reversing the partition of the country. Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe were not prepared to bear the costs of a military resolution to the August 1998 invasion.
The Bush Administration basically pursued a continuation of the Clinton policy. The Bush Administration also pushed for a rapprochement between Kinshasa and Kigali - which is in the long-term national interest of both countries. Unfortunately, any number of underlying problems in the Kivus were left unresolved in the agreement reached by the two governments.
Now the Obama Administration is having to contend with these unresolved issues. Was it a mistake for the Obama Administration to push for Bosco's arrest as called for by groups like the Enough Project and the Eastern Congo Initiative? I've had serious misgivings about launching military operations in the Kivus; at the same time I tend to agree with Mel that a "false peace" in the Kivus with Bosco operating with impunity is not acceptable.
I don't know how the current situation is going to play out - none of us does. But I think once a military operation is undertaken it needs to be seen through. I don't believe any sovereign government can accept mutiny in its armed forces and rebel movements dictating terms to state authorities.
One needs to be careful about arriving at a false dichotomy of Republican/good, Democrat/bad with regard to US foreign policy in the DRC. Administrations from both parties have made decisions that historians will likely judge as serious miscalculations.
Bruce
paul kagame will today deliver the commencement address to a graduating class of 370 students and also receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, from the William Penn University in Iowa, United States.
http://www.wmpenn.edu/News/News_Releases/2012/Rwandan_President_to_Give_Commencement_Address_at_William_Penn_University/
@ Anonym MAY 12, 2012 1:58 AM,
It's quite ironic that Paul K. is recognized for " his contributions to the humanities or human welfare." I guess beauty in the eye of the beholder.
@ Bruce,
You made really good points regarding us foreign policies toward Congo. I agree that it will be simplistic to conclude that all republicans are good and all democrats are evil.
In another hand, my impression on the field is that we have a better chance with the republicans assuming power than the democrats. The former are more pragmatics, businesses friendly. Since great capitals hate instability, they are more prone to push for a quick resolution of a conflict.
The latter are more sentimental. They are more interested in the social aspect of a conflict.They pick side based on their convictions. I'm afraid that in the case of Congo, the mainstream democrats picked Rwanda not Congo. Albright said that we cannot touch any Tutsi because they are like the apple of her eyes. The Clinton administration put tremendous pressures to stop Zimbabwe and Angola to go forward. They misjudged the Congolese's will to keep the country together. It's not because they cared about us that they funded the monuc. There was a statu quo and public opinion turned against the RCD narrative after Makobola and Okitundu's white book.
I don't think that Susan Rice evolved in her opinion about Rwanda, the Clinton administration has that sense of guilt since the Rwanda's genocide happened under their watch. Most of them are back with Obama.
Democrats may be good for America but I doubt their self righteous attitude in foreign policies will be beneficial for the Congo.
It's more complex than my simplistic explanation but I believe that we are better off with republicans than democrats.
@blaise
I don't consider your arguments to be simplistic; to the contrary, they are thoughtful and well-informed...I agree with much of what you say.
Where I might take exception is the idea that a "quick resolution" that serves the interests of the business community, which may or may not serve the goal of an enduring and just peace, is merely "kicking the can down the road." If these conflicts in the Kivus are going to flare up every two or three years, then a more comprehensive solution needs to be found. Pragmatism is idealism tempered by realism - and Barack Obama is generally a pragmatist, so I haven't given up hope yet.
In the past the kinds of ongoing machinations that seem designed to protect Bosco probably would have succeeded...in today's environment of an emerging global civil society, a lot more people are paying attention.
Bruce
@blaise
That didn't come out quite right...my point is that a quick resolution really doesn't serve investor confidence if the peace doesn't hold...so even the business community has a self-interested incentive in the establishment a comprehensive solution in the Kivus.
Bruce
@ Bruce,
That's right. A comprehensive solution will help everybody. I just don't trust Clinton's old guards to come up with a solution in our advantage. I believe they are reading history in the wrong perspective ( see Kagame redognized as an humanitarian, it's like Hitler lauded for the rise of the third reich: good for the germans but not necessary for the rest of humanity).
Seeing susan Rice as ambassador for the UN doesn't particularly excite me for the future. We know that who control the money control the decision. Did you noticed that it took years before the Monuc was authorized to fire on "rebels". I think i know who was obstructing.
@Mel
Thanks 4 taking the cause of the voiceless and faceless congolese in the US. May God bless u and people like u.
@Bruce,blaise et alii
To find a resolution to the problem in the kivus,we need to circumscribe it.
What is it? 4 possible answers.
1. The problem can be the intercommunity conflicts. I doubt though. because there are,sometimes violent, intercommunity feuds in every province of the DRC. But because congo is not a 2-tribe country,like rwanda or burundi, these feuds r quickly submerged or resolved. But why r intercommunity conflicts artifically exarcebated?
2. Is the problem some injustice by the congolese against the tutsi as the dogs of war of the cndp and m23 dress it up as grievances? But today even their stauchest supporters dont believe them anymore. What grievances if the tutsi is the most represented tribe in the DRC institutins! Even about that fallacious non-issue of "the returning of the tutsi refugees from rwanda": Ntagana and Makenga were tasked with pacifying the area so everyone could live in peace. Instead, they abandonned their positions and indulged in looting, raping and smuggling congolese minerals to rwanda.
3. Many say the problem is the tutsi. Even though this may be immediately plausible as all the wars (mutebisi,nkunda,ntangana,makenga) are started by these war mongers. But personnaly i dont believe in the innate evil on any people. Unlike their elite, ordinary tutsi just want to live peace.
4. Eureka! i just found what the problem of the kivu (cong) is , and ipso facto how to solve it. The problem of the kivus is Paul Kagame. paul kagame both as an individual and as an ideology. Because kagamism is the belief in the continued instability of the congo so its riches can be shipped through the rwanda-corridor. It is importantly the dangerous belief in the racial superiority of his hue over bantus.
Now the question is, why would the very people who decry or suffered nazism support P kagame. Look who is doing his bidding in the USA and give him shameful patronage in the intl media.
So take out p kagame and the problem is solved!
muanacongo
Kagame is the leader that will set a path to follow for every African aspiring or current leader, who wants to bring Change. Oye P.Kagame! My hero, he saved my life, i would never forget the day i shook hands with him in the refugee camps of Kabuga, i was this is the man. Because of him i did not get slaughtered like a lamb.
War or madness?
http://gorillacd.org/2012/05/10/three-of-ours-killed-during-militia-attack-near-rwindi/
Rich
Oh how I long for the day when the people of the Great Lakes labor not to make militia's and pick stones from the earth, but are building companies that sell goods and products the world needs, crafting stories of the human condition that entertain and enlighten, and probe the very depths of knowledge....
will we ever see this day?
I find your blog illuminating. I've spent much of the past years in Africa and have just published a book with an activist in Cameroon named Ofir Drori who is battling wildlife crime and corruption. The book is The Last Great Ape.
We started a blog to get the word out about the book and about Ofir's activism, and I'd love for you to see it and perhaps add it to your sites to watch.
lastgreatape.wordpress.com
Keep up your important work,
david
davidmcdannald@yahoo.com
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