Only political solution will work in DRC

On Wednesday, the United Nations Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, former Irish President Mary Robinson, told reporters in Kigali that the ultimate solution to the crisis in DRC was not military but rather political.This is a fact that must be continually reiterated by all the concerned parties in the conflict. The United Nations, the Congolese government, the various militia groups, the ICGLR, SADC and the African Union must endeavour to sing from the same hymn sheet.War will only bring more suffering to the Congolese people who are simply unwilling bystanders at an international game of chess.Ms Robinson must have realised – on her first visit to the region as UN envoy – that it was imprudent to put all the eggs in the military basket leaving out political solutions. Most of DRC’s problems are political and all that is needed is goodwill from all sides of the conflict.While it might seem less tedious to take a military approach to the issue – through the Intervention Brigade – instead of step-by-step approach, this will only tackle the symptoms of the problem and not the problem itself.As we’ve seen in the past, unless a political settlement is agreed upon, stability remains but a pipe dream. As a matter of urgency, the Kampala peace talks between DRC and the M23 group should be given priority by all the stakeholders. To not do so is a further betrayal of a people who have already seen too much tragedy and death.One question that many seem to ask themselves: in whose interests was torpedoing the Kampala talks? Powerful interests seem to be at play here, and the fate of the Congolese is not one of their priorities.Bringing more guns in the midst of a people who have suffered for long, is more than fanning the flames in a wildfire, it’s criminal – similar as aiding and abetting the commission of a crime.

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Only political solution will work in DRC