If presidential politics were a game, both Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angolan president João Lourenço would be referred to as rookies (new recruits). But they come with an eagerness to learn, if not change the game altogether. Both came to power to find they had a big mess to clean left behind by their predecessors. For the Congolese president, it’s too early to judge as he is still finding his way and consolidating his power. For João Lourenço, the transition was much easier as it was more or less an in-house passing of the baton, but nevertheless, he came in with a bang and a big broom. One feels that with the entrance of the two rookies, there seem to be a feeling of real willingness to bring sanity back to eastern DRC that is causing insecurity in all neighbouring countries. Many previous commitments were just mere talk and no action. In fact, in the case of Congo, there was either no effective command and control of its armed forces, or it was official policy because the same forces sent out to rout the many armed groups ended up supplying them with weapons instead. That was the crux of the matter; some people did not want to end the insecurity and confusion in the Congo. It is everyone’s hope that the just concluded Quadripartite Summit in Luanda Angola, closely following another slightly more than a month ago, is a sign of the times; that this time around, it is imvugo niyo ngiro (walking the talk).
