{"id":54026,"date":"2025-04-25T10:57:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T10:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/scapegoating-rwanda-a-distraction-from-congo-s-real-enemies\/"},"modified":"2025-04-24T17:12:44","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T17:12:44","slug":"scapegoating-rwanda-a-distraction-from-congo-s-real-enemies","status":"publish","type":"opinion","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/opinion\/scapegoating-rwanda-a-distraction-from-congo-s-real-enemies\/","title":{"rendered":"Scapegoating Rwanda: A distraction from Congo\u2019s real enemies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yet, year after year, Congo\u2019s crisis remains unresolved. What cannot be ignored is the pattern: whenever a major problem arises, some choose to deflect blame and launch a campaign of falsehoods, pointing fingers at others instead of seeking sustainable, internal solutions. <\/p>\n

Currently, Rwanda has been scapegoated as the source of Congo\u2019s insecurity. Ironically, those pushing that narrative are the very actors fueling Congo’s instability and blocking the path to peace.<\/p>\n

{{Truth, twisted with lies
\n}}<\/p>\n

Since 1994, the number of armed groups in eastern DRC has grown at an alarming rate. In 2013, there were approximately 40 such groups. By 2024, that number had exceeded 250, with some analysts suggesting it may now be closer to 300. <\/p>\n

Although these militias are the main drivers of chaos in the region, no country or international organisation has made a serious effort to eliminate them. Instead, they opt for endless conferences and statements, while Congolese civilians continue to be killed, displaced, and looted in their own country.<\/p>\n

Many of the mining companies operating freely in these conflict zones hail from nations or blocs with the power to label aggressors and dictate international narratives. These companies continue their operations undisturbed, coexisting with terrorist groups, never raising alarms about threats. Why? Because these militias protect their interests. This disturbing reality raises a critical question: Is the Congo crisis genuinely being solved, or is it a long-term business of conflict profiting powerful actors?<\/p>\n

{{Belgium and the false narrative against Rwanda
\n}}<\/p>\n

Belgium, the DRC\u2019s former colonial power, is one of the loudest voices promoting a false narrative\u2014a repetitive anti-Rwanda song echoed by Congolese officials who have failed to deliver for their people.<\/p>\n

Today, these officials are expected to chant that narrative at every platform\u2014locally, across Africa, and internationally\u2014blaming Rwanda for everything while consolidating political and military power for personal gain. This has become their job, one that earns them thousands of dollars and international travel, all while offering no solutions to the Congolese people\u2019s suffering.<\/p>\n

Shockingly, some nations considered developed have embraced this narrative as truth, largely because they benefit from the ongoing plunder of Congo\u2019s riches. Meanwhile, Rwanda has been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion without so much as a hearing.<\/p>\n

Belgium continues to pose as a caring guardian of Congo while playing an active role in deepening its economic turmoil and denying its people the right to self-determination. It is also among the nations calling for sanctions against Rwanda, conveniently ignoring its own historical and ongoing involvement in Congo\u2019s destabilisation.<\/p>\n

The tragic irony is clear: those who once colonised and exploited Congo now claim moral authority over its future, all while continuing to benefit from its suffering. The real enemies of Congo are not across the border\u2014they are within its leadership and among the foreign interests that prop up a system of exploitation masked as concern.<\/p>\n

Blaming Rwanda may be politically convenient, but it solves nothing. It only delays the hard, necessary work of reform and accountability within Congo and distracts from the complicity of powerful international actors. Peace will not come through scapegoats or soundbites. It will come when the truth is faced, the militias are dismantled, and Congolese citizens are finally given the leadership, dignity, and justice they deserve.<\/p>\n

Until then, Rwanda will remain an easy target for those unwilling to confront the real architects of Congo\u2019s endless crisis.<\/p>\n

\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At a time when the world is grappling with serious challenges\u2014security threats, corruption, unemployment, and discrimination\u2014truth is often the first casualty. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country blessed with vast natural wealth, remains plagued by political turmoil, insecurity, and the massive looting of its resources. Despite its potential to be peaceful and prosperous, the DRC consistently ranks among the world\u2019s poorest nations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000086344,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[75],"byline":[3199],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-54026","opinion","type-opinion","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinions","tag-homenews","byline-ne"],"bylines":[{"id":3199,"name":"NE","slug":"ne","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"contributors":[{"id":3199,"name":"NE","slug":"ne","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"featured_image":{"id":2000086344,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/congo_.png","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/png","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/congo_.png","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/congo_.png","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/congo_.png","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/congo_.png","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/congo_.png","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/opinion\/54026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/opinion"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/opinion"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/opinion\/54026\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000086344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54026"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=54026"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=54026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}