The Endless Genocide: Rwanda Still Spreading Chaos and Death in Congo
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A Black Agenda Radio commentary by Glen Ford
The name “Rwanda” evokes instant sympathy among Americans, who view the African nation as a quintessential victim of genocide. But Rwanda is also the main player, along with Uganda, in a much larger genocide: the death of six million Congolese. A leaked UN report shows Rwanda’s Tutsi rulers are up to their old, deadly tricks in Congo – under U.S. protection, of course.
The Endless Genocide: Rwanda Still Spreading Chaos and Death in Congo
A Black Agenda Radio commentary by Glen Ford
“A leaked United Nations report charges that Rwanda continues to prey upon its Congolese neighbor.”
Rwanda, the tiny African country run by a small but armed-to-the-teeth Tutsi tribal minority, is known to most Americans as the site of the 1994 genocide that killed hundreds of thousands. But Rwanda, along with fellow U.S. client state Uganda, is largely responsible for the worst genocide since World War Two: the death of six million Congolese. A leaked United Nations report charges that Rwanda continues to prey upon its Congolese neighbor, sending Rwandans to help fuel a mutiny of Congolese Tutsi soldiers against the country’s government in Kinshasa.
It’s not surprising that the UN report on Rwanda’s serial crimes against Congo had to be leaked. U.S. collusion with the world’s most genocidal regimes does not jibe well with Washington’s constant preaching about humanitarian intervention. In 2010, another leaked UN report documented Rwandan crimes in eastern Congo that, “could be classified as genocide.” The Rwandan military and its allied militias of Congolese Tutsis seized control of huge chunks of Congo’s most mineral-rich regions, slaughtering whoever got in their way, including Rwandan Hutu refugees and native Congolese. It is estimated that three and half million “excess deaths” occurred in those parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo controlled by Rwanda. Another U.S. ally, Uganda, helped itself to large sections of the Congo, hauling away precious metals for sale to multinational corporations, and causing mass death in the process.
“The United States is deeply involved in the deadly games that both Rwanda and Uganda play in Congo.”
The focus of the current UN report is a Congolese Tutsi warlord whose allegiance is clearly with his fellow Tutsis in Rwanda – and to his own bank account. General Bosco Ntaganda took part in the overthrow of the Hutu-led government of Rwanda in 1994 and has acted as a proxy warlord for Rwanda in Congo ever since. Ntaganda is also known as “the Terminator.” The International Criminal Court charged him with war crimes in 2006, including the use of child soldiers. But he was never arrested, undoubtedly because the United States, from which the Court takes its orders, is deeply involved in the deadly games that both Rwanda and Uganda play in Congo – games whose ultimate winners are multinational corporations.
But before Congolese minerals find their way to the big corporate guys, they are first stolen by warlords like Ntaganda, the Terminator. A UN Group of Experts reported late last year that the general controls a network of mines in Congo. He also uses his militia to levy “taxes” on other mining operations. Ultimately, it appears Ntaganda is an important cog in a vast criminal enterprise centered in the Rwandan government, itself – all profiting off the bones of six million dead Congolese.
In a peace deal between the Congolese government and Rwanda in 2009, the Tutsi Congolese militia was technically merged into the Congolese Army. But it was just a façade. Under Ntaganda, the Tutsi Congolese staged a mutiny. According to the leaked UN report, young Rwandans who thought they were being recruited for their own country’s army found themselves shipped to the Congo to fight alongside Ntaganda against the Congolese Army. In reality, there was no mutiny of the Tutsi Congolese fighters; they have been proxies for Rwanda all along.
Which means they also serve United States interests in Africa – a ticket to impunity, no matter how many Africans you kill.
For Black Agenda Radio, I’m Glen Ford. On the web, go to BlackAgendaReport.com.
BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com.
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Yup...
We must not forget the hidden hand. Kagame, Museveni, Kenya, S. Sudan & Ethiopia are all British assets carrying out Anglo blood lust, dictatorship & privatization in E. Africa:
"Business in Rwanda"
Africa’s Singapore?
A country with a bloody history seeks prosperity by becoming business-friendly
http://www.economist.com/node/21548263
I saw people here a few days ago speaking of a "Black AIPAC," when we're already looking at privileged, rouge elements in Africa, and a Black American afrogarchy (developing around the Chamber of Commerce) that supports these mass murderers in Africa:
"South Sudan is Born – Hallelujah! Hallelujah!!"
By Mr. Harry Alford
The God fearing, Jesus loving people of South Sudan are finally free, independent and democratic as of July 9, 2011. After a hundred years of colonialism and fifty years of revolution there is finally peace. The peace will be fragile but if we and many others live up to our commitments it will be sustained. The potential for the newest nation in Africa is very huge. They have natural resources, oil, farmland and guaranteed hydration through the Nile river that make it a sure bet for economic success.
Gone are the days of atrocities such as Darfur. The rape and pillage of villages on a routine basis led by the ruthless President of the now North Sudan, Bashir the butcher.
The people of South Sudan endured the biggest holocaust since World War II or Cambodia. It was because God blessed their land with some of the richest resources in the world that others wanted them out of the way. Now, they can begin to harvest these resources and build their fledging economy.
I want to formally thank the following: Joe Madison and his fellow activists who protested in front of the Sudan embassy and exposed the occurring atrocities; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who devoted much of her precious time to make this historic event a reality and was tireless in her ambition for success-the American Consulate became the US Embassy on the very day of independence; President Obama who gave the authority to Secretary Clinton and supported all activity that encouraged this happy ending; the African Union which gave precious money and soldiers in defense of the people of South Sudan; the UN and others who showed their powerful support for peace and the creation of the new nation. Last but not least is the Congressional Black Caucus which was led by the noble efforts of the Honorable Don Payne, D-New Jersey. I am sure he smiled 24/7 while he participated in the ceremonies in Juba last Saturday.
What is also promising is the friendly welcoming of South Sudan’s neighbors. Led by Kenya other nations such as Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia have welcomed South Sudan into their economic development strategies. This region will move as one with well written and agreed upon plans for the future.
Education, entrepreneurship and infrastructure building and agribusiness development will be the essentials to a successful future.
Yes, the United States which has made terrible diplomatic blunders throughout our young history played it right this time.
China, on the other hand, played their cards wrong. They chose to support the North and provided nearly 80% of the arms used against the people of South Sudan. I have talked to principles of the new nation and they are committed to showing their thanks to the United States and will hold the sinister ways of China in their memories forever. We are natural allies with South Sudan and that is a good thing.
Chevron Corporation explored for oil in what is now South Sudan and hit it big. However, the subsequent warfare forced Chevron to get its employees out and abandon the find.
The Chinese jumped on this with a vengeance and were too willing to partner with the atrocity mongering northern regime.
Now that the nation has been established we should advocate for the right of Chevron to reconnect to its investment.
There are many things that need to be done.
The United States should enter into a nonaggression pact with South Sudan. In essence, any aggression done to the sovereignty of South Sudan will be regarded as an act of aggression against the United States. Thus, you mess with South Sudan; you mess with us and we will whip your butt.
http://www.nationalbcc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=...