UNSC visit must deliver for region

A high level delegation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), arrived in Kigali yesterday morning. Their main interest in the visit to six African countries being peace and security, to war ravished parts of the continent which include; eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), northern Uganda, Chad, and Somalia. The high level visit was long overdue given the suffering citizens in these hot-spots have been subjected to, and a lack of leadership at the highest international level. A situation has existed of a grave humanitarian catastrophe, impounded by increasing reports of killings, rape and widespread looting. The interesting thing being that in most of these conflict areas, those responsible are armed rebel groups that continue to operate with impunity; having widespread networks that go well into the western world, a source of much of their funding. Meaning that the visit by the UNSC must not scratch on the surface in dealing with these conflict zones. While each conflict will have unique features, all of them by and large contribute to insecurity on the continent and wider international community. The delegation’s arrival here in Rwanda is not only timely but very strategic in laying to rest once and for all the ravaging menace in the eastern DRC; the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebel group. At the time of going to press, we are still following stories of renewed attacks in the eastern DRC. This time there are worrying reports of attacks on government FARDC soldiers, with scores killed in the process. At their own volition, the Rwandan and the DRC governments set the framework to deal with the FDLR once and for all through the joint operation ‘Umoja Wetu.’ Bilateral meetings have continued between the two countries driven by the consensus that peace will remain elusive to the region should the FDLR continue to operate. The FDLR itself birthed in a process of violence– the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi¬– will never willingly embrace peace as this is tantamount to its death. Many issues therefore come to the fore to do with supporting future military action to rout the rebel group at a wider global level; issues also to do with justice and accountability those with links to the rebels must be targeted and made to account. Lastly, the UNSC delegation must also consider the fact that there is both a historical context and current context in dealing with peace in the eastern Congo. Authors of the Genocide still roam free in European capitals, enforcing a culture of impunity. Any resolution that does not deal with this aspect will be faulty. They have come to Rwanda, talked to demobilized FDLR combatants, and have witnessed, Rwanda’s will and capacity to deal with the regional insecurity problem once for all. The ball is now in their court to offer leadership, this visit is yet another test of the UNSC’s integrity. Ends

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UNSC visit must deliver for region