Dear Editor,

I am writting in regard to the visit by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s Minister of Defence, to Rwanda this week.

For the last two years, Rwanda and the DRC have joined hands to find a solution to issues that have previously threatened the security of the peoples of both countries.

This week, DRC’s Minister of   Defence, Charles Mwando Nsimba, and  Rwanda’s Gen. James Kabarebe, met and agreed that both countries will continue to exchange intelligence and information on common security threats as they put in place mechanisms to continue dealing with the FDLR rebels.

In early 2009, the two countries’ armies joined forces in what was called ‘Operation Umoja Wetu’ to fight the FDLR in Eastern DRC. Since then, most people living around those areas will testify that there has been relative peace and calm.

As if to testify to this, over 2,000 of FDLR’s fighters and their dependants have been repatriated, its political leaders arrested, and as was both countries’ original mission; peace has reigned.

Through this letter, I would like to implore all Africans to learn from both Rwanda and DRC on, the benefits of collaborating with your neighbors to find lasting solutions to general problems.

The collaboration between both countries should teach other countries that there is much more to reap from partnerships. If all the countries in Africa who are neighbors, for instance, joined hands to fight a common enemy, the fruits would be much more, easier to get  and, obviously, in the shortest time  possible as compared to doing it alone.

Dr. Patrick Maniraguha
Nyanza