{"id":54027,"date":"2025-04-25T13:05:15","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T13:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/samidrc-and-monusco-the-dangerous-protected-coalition-in-the-great-lakes\/"},"modified":"2025-04-24T17:50:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T17:50:00","slug":"samidrc-and-monusco-the-dangerous-protected-coalition-in-the-great-lakes","status":"publish","type":"opinion","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/opinion\/samidrc-and-monusco-the-dangerous-protected-coalition-in-the-great-lakes\/","title":{"rendered":"SAMIDRC and MONUSCO: The dangerous protected coalition in the Great Lakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The arrival of SAMIDRC, supported by SADC and reinforced by MONUSCO\u2019s shadow, has been presented as a mission for stability. But beneath the surface lies a deeply troubling alliance \u2014 one that does not serve peace but feeds a much older, unresolved agenda.<\/p>\n

Despite being branded as a peacekeeping initiative, the real purpose behind SAMIDRC\u2019s deployment appears to be something else entirely. Evidence on the ground increasingly suggests that SAMIDRC did not arrive as a neutral arbiter, but rather to collaborate with the Congolese army (FARDC) in fighting the M23 rebels. <\/p>\n

Even a recent investigative report by journalist Rutendo Matinyarare revealed images of missiles that were supposedly meant for M23 but were instead being directed toward Rwanda \u2014 a clear indication of deliberate provocation or strategic misdirection. This targeting raises serious questions about the true intent of SAMIDRC\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

The danger becomes even clearer when we examine the structure of the CCCO (Centre Conjoint de Coordination des Op\u00e9rations), where operational posts are shared not only with FARDC and SADC forces, but also with the genocidal FDLR \u2014 a militia with a well-documented record of crimes against humanity. <\/p>\n

The fact that such a group remains a stakeholder in this command structure is nothing short of scandalous. One must ask: who is behind this carefully coordinated strategy? And why does the world remain silent?<\/p>\n

Part of the answer lies in history and identity. Many of the countries contributing troops to SAMIDRC harbor exiles from the Hutu and Bantu communities \u2014 some of whom are fugitives from justice, others propagandists who lost power or wars to Rwanda. <\/p>\n

The trauma of defeat in the First and Second Congo Wars has never been addressed, and for some, the battlefield is now disguised as diplomacy. There is a quiet but powerful desire for revenge against Rwanda\u2019s dominance in the region, one fueled by old wounds and unresolved grudges.<\/p>\n

Ethnic undertones continue to shape regional dynamics. The divide between Nilotic and Bantu groups plays out subtly, yet dangerously. Take, for example, the case of DRC\u2019s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Kayikwamba, whose speech in New York sought to revive unfounded claims of genocide against Hutus in Burundi. <\/p>\n

Although she later attempted to retract her remarks, the damage had already been done \u2014 the message was delivered, and it was far from accidental. It was a carefully scripted narrative in a long-term campaign.<\/p>\n

This also helps explain why several SADC countries have been reluctant to extradite genocide fugitives. Rwanda has repeatedly provided evidence of fugitives sheltered within SADC borders, yet extradition requests are ignored. These countries continue to serve as safe havens for individuals who openly work to destabilize Rwanda and spread propaganda, manipulating both media and regional platforms to do so.<\/p>\n

Rwanda\u2019s political stability and governance success stand in stark contrast to its neighbors \u2014 and that success has bred envy. Where Rwanda has invested in development, security, and systems, others have fallen prey to corruption, mismanagement, and endless internal conflict. Rather than seek reforms, some actors choose to undermine Rwanda\u2019s achievements. It is telling how quickly certain countries react whenever anyone speaks against Kigali \u2014 not out of principle, but from a place of insecurity.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, chaos on the ground provides fertile soil for profiteers. During disorder, commanders from regional forces \u2014 and even FARDC itself \u2014 seize the opportunity to divert funds, embezzle logistics, and prolong conflict for personal gain. For many generals in the Congolese army, peace is bad business. The war economy has become a source of income and authority, and there’s no appetite to end it anytime soon.<\/p>\n

Adding to this crisis is the sheer weakness of Congolese leadership. The DRC, rich in resources, is plagued by a governance vacuum. Armed groups, foreign soldiers, and criminals act with impunity \u2014 even against Congolese civilians \u2014 because no institution steps in to protect the people. The country is practically a no-man\u2019s land, where order is a myth and justice an illusion.<\/p>\n

At the center of all this is the DRC\u2019s mineral wealth. From cobalt to coltan, diamonds to gold, the country\u2019s riches remain both a blessing and a curse. Everyone wants a piece, and none are willing to wait. As long as the soil of the DR Congo remains untouched by full extraction, there will be no peace. But the process will take generations, perhaps centuries \u2014 meaning this chaos is not temporary. It is systemic.<\/p>\n

The world must stop pretending that SAMIDRC is a peacekeeping force in the traditional sense. Its deployments, alliances, and the motives of those behind it suggest otherwise. <\/p>\n

What we are witnessing is not peacebuilding, but a dangerous geopolitical game \u2014 one that could destabilize the entire region and undo decades of hard-won progress. It is time to call things what they are and demand accountability, even though nothing may change. This narrative has been repeated for years, and those who have the power to correct it are the very ones profiting from the chaos.<\/p>\n

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

In the heart of the Great Lakes region, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains a battleground not just of bullets and rebel movements, but of powerful geopolitical interests disguised under the banner of peacekeeping. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":2000086346,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[75],"byline":[3193],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-54027","opinion","type-opinion","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinions","tag-homenews","byline-jdn"],"bylines":[{"id":3193,"name":"JDN","slug":"jdn","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":3193,"name":"JDN","slug":"jdn","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":2000086346,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/coi.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/coi.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/coi.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/coi.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/coi.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/coi.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/opinion\/54027","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\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54027"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/opinion\/54027\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000086346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54027"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=54027"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=54027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}