PAUL KAGAME'S JUXTAPOSITION OF PRETEXTS

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi(left).Rwandan President Paul Kagame(right)

From one pretext to another, the Rwandan President is lost in conjecture. To justify, at all costs, the invasion of Congolese territory, Paul Kagame fights like the devil in a holy water font. The trick of the evil one is to change arguments of opinion manipulation, in order to perpetuate his scorched earth policy.

First Kagame gives his justification of invading Congo to fight the FDLR who he says  pose a threat to Rwanda, then it is to defend the Congolese Tutsi against hate speech, then it is to respond to the question of Congolese refugees in Rwanda. The latest reason being to recover part of Rwanda which was given to Congo by the colonialist . Reading between the lines, Kagame displayed his ignorance of colonial history and his own country.

The least we can say is that, from one manipulative argument to another, Kagame is at the end of his expansionist and hegemonic ambitions.

The Rwandan dictator , in power for 23 years, plays  victim when he is in fact  the executioner of thousands of Congolese who have lost their lives because of an injustice war imposed by a bloodthirsty neighbor. It is Paul Kagame who is at the root and the cause of all the problems we have had in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo for more than 20 years, rightly replied the spokesperson for the Congolese government.

Citing the famous historian Isidore Ndaywel, Congolese Communication Minister Patrick Muyaya reminds Mr. Kagame that "It is  Congo that has land to recover in Rwanda, and not the opposite

In this war of aggression and in the face of Paul Kagame's warmongering threats, a whole collective challenge is launched to the Congolese: never betray the nation and never let even a square millimeter of our national territory slip away.

WATCH: TOP ADVISOR TO CONGOLESE PRESIDENT SEEN SLAPPING A MAN, DURING A HEATED ARGUMENT

 

Vidiye Tshimanga, who is President Felix Tshisekedi's special advisor on strategic issues, was video recorded slapping a man during a heated argument, it's not yet clear what the argument was about and what triggered  it. 

The video has certainly shifted the celebration mood, as just two days ago photos of Tshimanga's secret wedding was posted on social media.

DR CONGO PRESIDENT BEMOAN POOR INFRASTRUCTURE CONDITIONS, SAYING THAT IT WAS DELIBERATELY NEGLECTED TO MAKE HIS PEOPLE SUFFER

Visiting the province of Kasai, which is home to the population of his ethnic group, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi criticised the poor condition of infrastructure. He went on to say that it was deliberately neglected to cause suffering among the people of Kasai. It's the first time that the Congolese President is visiting the province since coming to power in 2018. There was high expectation among the luba, the native people of Kasai, that the situation in their province will change for the better since one of their own had been elected to the highest office in the Land. However 3 years along the line the misery and suffering continues, if not worsened.

DRCONGO: MURDER OF CHEBEYA, GENERAL DJADJIDJA PLACED ON SURVEILLANCE

General Zelwa Katanga, aka Djadjidja, was prevented from returning to his command base in the eastern part of the country and asked to stay in his residence in Kinshasa , while on surveillance. 

The detention of the General comes weeks after two escaped soldiers, from the Congolese army, made the revelation that the body of human right defender Floribet Chebeya and his driver Fidele Bazana, were buried at the General's residence in Kinshasa. It's believed that a military investigation is now underway to determine General Zelwa Katanga's role in the double assasination, which took place almost 11 years ago.

General Zelwa Katanga had come to Kinshasa from Kisangani, where he's based, to account for the two military helicopters which had crashed in Ituri and in Tshopo last December. It was upon his arrival in the Congolese capital  that the soldiers implicated him in the assanitation of Chebeya and Bazana.

It was initially believed that the bodies  of Chebeya and Bazana were buried at General John Numbi's home; who was the inspector of police at the time of the murder, and according to witnesses, met Chebeya shortly after his disappearance was made public

DRCONGO: CANADIAN AMBASSADOR DENOUNCE THE CONTINUAL ARBITRARY ARRESTS OF MEMBERS OF CIVIL SOCIETY

 

This comes after the United Nations' mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo , MONUSCO, released its report on the human right violations that took place in the month of August 2020, accross the national territory.

In a public statement, the Canadian Ambassador  Nicolas Simard said he had been told that officials from the Congolese national intelligence, Agence Nationale de Renseignements, continue to detain representatives of  civil society movements, in the eastern city of Bukavu. He then questioned how was this possible .

For the Ambassador, the Congolese population expect the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders and journalists be respected.

In the month of August 2020 , 669 violations of human rights was recorded across the national territory, this was a decrease of 9%, when compared to the 739 recorded in July 2020. The number of violations committed by security agents dropped by 12%, and those committed by armed groups decreased by 7% . The report was compiled by the United Nations' UNJHRO- MONUSCO.

Last week during a short visit in the city of  Goma, President Felix Tshisekedi promised to install himself  in the eastern part of the country in the coming days, with the aim of putting to an end the conflict that has been ravaging the region for decades. 

WATCH: SINGER KOFFI OLOMIDE MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS MOTHER

Koffi Olomide's mother, affectionately known as Mama Amy, died on 03 October 2020. In a video message Koffi told his fans that the pain and  emotions he's going through is not something that he would wish on someone. 

DRCONGO: IT'S BEEN ALMOST FOUR MONTHS SINCE GOVERNMENT STOPPED ISSUING PASSPORTS AND CONGOLESE ARE NOW GETTING FRUSTRATED

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been unable to issue its citizens with new passports, almost four months after it ended its contract with controversial Belgium company Semlex.

 And now with the lifting of some travel restrictions, frustration is growing among Congolese travellers who are unable to access this necessary document.

For the Minister of Foreign Affairs Marie Tumba Nzeza, the file concerning the issuing of passports was held up at the Ministry of Budget. The Minister has since called on her fellow compatriots to be patient as she has sent a communication to her colleague to expedite the process.  

According to Tumba  Nzeza, her department had already completed the necessary work in terms of how it will go about producing and issuing the passports. The file was then sent to the Ministry of Budget to be granted the necessary support, once this was done a communication will   be issued to the public, she said. 

The  government of Congo had refused to renew its contract with Semlex, which was  awarded the right to produce Congolese passports, after an earlier investigation tainted the company as being corrupt.

The investigation  detailed how Semlex was overcharging for the cost of each passport, to the benefit of the company and members of Congo's political elite. 

DRCONGO: PRESIDENT TSHISEKEDI APPEALS FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN SANCTIONING THOSE FUELING THE CONFLICT IN THE EASTERN REGION

Delivering his speech at the 75th United Nations General Assembly Meeting, via a video link, the Congolese President told members that his country cannot eradicate the presence of arm groups if networks offering them support are not dismantled. According to reports from various Non-governmental organisations, multinational companies have been funding rebel groups in Congo by purchasing mineral resources extracted from mines controlled by the rebels; these minerals are transported to neighbouring countries, mainly Rwanda and Uganda, where they are then distributed to the global market.

 

It's for this reason President Felix Tshisekedi is appealing to the international community to help his country by identifying companies involved in conflict minerals and apply effective sanctions. 

Tshisekedi is under heavy domestic pressure as the seems to be no end in the brutal killing taking place in the country's east. The latest  incident took place just last Sunday 20 September 2020, where 12 people were massacred in the village of Mbau , in North Kivu Province. 

After coming to power President Felix Tshisekedi made a commitment to end the conflict in the east before his term expires. 

DRCONGO: OPPOSITION LEADER FAYULU CONTINUES TO MAKE CLAIMS OF FORMER PRESIDENT KABILA BEING IN CHARGE.

According to Martin Fayulu, the December 2018 General Elections never brought about change in the country's leadership as the Congolese people were made to believe; instead current President Felix Tshisekedi illegally grabbed power from the mass population, and as a result of that Joseph Kabila continues to rule.

Many independent observers, including the Congo's powerful Catholic Church, have always held the view that Martin Fayulu won the Elections of 2018, and that Joseph Kabila struck a deal with Felix Tshisekedi for the latter to become the Head of State.

The 63 year old opposition leader is now calling on all stakeholders to come together and take a brave stance in favour of political reforms. Fayulu added that the country cannot wait until the next Presidential Elections in 2023 to anticipate change.

In an interview with online publication France Info Afrique , Martin Fayulu also delved into the catastrophic and tragic situation unravelling in the eastern parts of the country.

He questioned why the killings and massacre of innocent civilians have gone on for decades. According to Fayulu more than 140 arm groups are operating in eastern Congo and despite the deployment of around 17000 United Nations (UN) force, the violence just doesn't seem to be coming to an end. In addition to that, the main perpetrators of the violence are yet to be held accountable, even with the conclusion of the UN mapping report, which named these main perpetrators. For Fayulu, the United Nations and the international community must tell the truth about what's really going on and who is benefiting from the ongoing conflict. 

DRCONGO: FINANCIAL DIRECTOR FOR VODACOM CONGO RELEASED

The financial director for the Democratic Republic of Congo's most profitable cellular network Vodacom Congo, has been released from custody.

 

Oomar Chuto was set free on 18 September 2020, after spending four days in detention, at the Office of the State Prosecutor.

He was arrested by the judicial police on suspicious of forgery and falsification of documents. It's alleged that Oomar Chuto had been forging Vodacom's financial statements as to reduced the tax and revenues the company owes to the State.

Last year 2019, Vodacom Congo, which is 51% owned by parent company Vodacom South Africa, was embroiled in a legal battle after the Congolese Ministry of Telecommunication withdrew its 2G license, citing irregularities in the awarding process. According to Minister Emery Okundji, Vodacom Congo had to pay USD65 million instead of the USD16 million it paid in order to obtain such license.

An agreement was later struck between both parties.

DRCONGO: MORE THAN USD250M OF CIVIL SERVANTS SALARIES DISAPPEARED, SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SYSTEM

Interesting enough the electronic  payment system was introduced to end corruption and misappropriation of civil servants salaries, which was rampant when State employees were receiving their pay through sealed envelopes. 

But now  prosecutors in Kinshasa have launched an investigation to trace more than USD250 million of government money, lost under this banking system, put in place in 2011.

Its appears that the Congolese government had been loosing money through the creation of duplicate and fictitious accounts, where civil servants salaries will be swindled. 

The Congolese State recognises 1220 458 employees under its payroll, and would disburse a monthly sum of more than USD100 million for salaries settlements. According to the State Attorney though, around USD25 million of that amount is paid to only 50 individuals. The Attorney also revealed the existence of more than 170000 fictitious agents and duplicate accounts on government's civil servants database.

 Now it wants all banks that have been facilitating the payment transactions for State employees to handover all the financial records relating to such transaction.

 

The  State Prosecutor is also  investigating The Payroll Monitoring Committee PMC), an institution  of government charged with eradicating duplicate accounts and fictitious agents on the civil servant payroll system. Last year the head of PMC, Jean Louis Kayembe, was held in detention over a case involving the embezzlement of USD4,5 millon of treasury money. 

DRCONGO: FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA ATTENDS PARLIAMENTARY SESSION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE STEPPING DOWN

The People's Palace, which houses both the Senate and Parliamentary seatings, came to a standstill as former Congolese President Joseph Kabila made his way into the building, to attend  the opening of Parliament.

 Kabila was attending the session in his capacity as the  Senator for life. This marked a very significant step for the country's democracy as it rules out the possibility of Kabila returning in the near future to contest the Presidential Elections.

 

According to the Congolese Constitution, once the President finishes serving a second term , he/she will step down and automatically becomes a Senator for life .

In recent months there have been speculations that Kabila will make a come back and contest the 2023  elections, such speculations are said to be driven by campaigns from some members of his political party, who fear that their political influence and control is slowly drifting away.

Even though Joseph Kabila's coalition movement, The Common Front for Congo (FCC),  holds majority seats in Parliament, they are struggling to push through some of the contentious laws, obstructed by pressure from the  current President, Felix Tshisekedi. 

Earlier in the year some members of the FCC tried to introduce the law that would have weaken the power of the courts and magistrates, but Tshisekedi made it clear that he would not sign into law such bill.

Tshisekedi is also said to be gunning for FCC members, over allegations of corruption, which was committed when Joseph Kabila was in power. 

DRCONGO: BURUNDI SNUBS INVITATION FROM CONGOLESE LEADER TO PARTICIPATE IN A GREAT LAKES MINI-SUMMIT

In a responding letter from Burundi's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government of that country said that due to an already scheduled calendar,  it was not possible for President Evariste Ndayishimiye to attend the mini-summit; which would have included the President of Rwanda and Uganda.

Instead they have proposed that a bilateral meeting, at a ministerial level, be held between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)  and Burundi. Such meeting will discuss issues relating to security along the shared border; Burundi also wants to talk about economic interests and the management of the coronavirus pandemic at the border posts. 

The letter also praised the excellent and brotherly relations enjoyed by both countries, emphasising Burundi's commitment to maintain such relations.

The DRC President Felix Tshisekedi had sent a letter to President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Burundi's Evariste Ndayishimiye, to attend a mini-summit in the Congolese city of Goma, which was to be held between the 09th and 13th of September 2020. 

Relations among these countries have been patchy for decades and is believed to be one of the main causes of the instability and killings in the eastern parts of Congo. 

DRCONGO: LUMUMBA'S DAUGHTER WINS COURT BATTLE FOR THE RETURN OF HER FATHER'S BODY PART

A court in Belgium has ruled in favour of Juliana Lumumba, daughter of Congolese liberation icon Patrice Emery Lumumba, to have her father's remaining tooth be returned to the family.

For years Juliana Lumumba had been leading a campaign to have her father's remains be returned to the land of his ancestors, the Democratic Republic of Congo; she even wrote to the Belgium Monarch, King Philippe I, to facilitate such process.

It's believed that Lumumba's tooth was the only remain left of him after his body was  dismembered and dissolved in acid during an assassination  mission.

The tooth was removed from  Lumumba's body by a policeman who assisted in disposing his body. He than took it to Belgium where his family had kept it for more than half a century

Lumumba was assassinated in January 1961 by members  of America's Central Intelligence Agency, in collaboration with Belgium officials. In  2002 the government of Belgium officially issued an apology for its participation in the assasination

DRCONGO: DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR CIVIL AVIATION SUSPENDED, AFTER AUTHORISING GOOGLE BALLOON TO FLY IN DRC AIRSPACE

The Congolese Transport Ministry has confirmed the suspension of Civil Aviation Director General Jean Tshuimba Mpunga, after an investigation report discovered that he had signed an agreement with US based company Loon LLC , which is also part of Google's parent company, for  one of its invention to be tested in Congolese airspace. 

The high altitude balloon, also known as the Google Balloon, was allowed to float in the stratosphere leading to its engine crash landing in the Congolese town of Buta, Bas Uele Province.

 The Google Balloon was designed to offer internet access to people living in rural and remote parts of the world; it's said to provide one of the most cost effective WiFi connectivity.

 For the Ministry of Transport, due to security and scientific significance, the Civil Aviation Authority should have first gotten the approval of the central government before signing the deal with the US company. 

DRCONGO: ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO TRY AND SETTLE LAND DISPUTE BETWEEN FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA'S WIFE AND THE HABITANTS OF MBOBERO VILLAGE

Last week a delegation had arrived in the village of Mbobero, in the territory of Kabare South Kivu Province, to meet with the local population and find a way to bring to an end a 10 year land dispute, involving former first lady of the Democratic Republic of Congo Olive Lembe Kabila. 

Among the delegates was  Lembe's Chief of Staff Henri Kitenge, and the Administrator of Kabare , Thadee Midero.

The origin of the dispute dates back from 2010 when Mrs Kabila bought  200 hectares of land in the village, for farming purpose.

According to local civil society, the former first lady imposed her own terms and conditions, ordering villagers occupying the purchased land to vacate .

However there was a resistance from certain members of the village, some of whom had owned the land for more than 50 years.

In a film serie produced by journalists Gael Mpoyo and Franck Zongwe, together with human rights activists Jean-Chrisostome Kijana and Fidele Mutchungu, the film script gave an account of how Mrs Kabila used her status to forcefully remove those who had refused to give up their land. The film dubbed "Mbobero:Might Is Always Right" detailed how Olive Lembe was accompanied by security forces, including members of the Presidential Republican Guards, who went on to burn more than 300 houses after chasing away around 2000 of its occupants. 

The producers of the film were later subjected to threats, intimidations and arrests; a situation that was condemned by rights orgarnisation Human Rights Watch.   

But it seemed the violent confrontation never really settled the dispute, as in 2019, under the new leadership of President Felix Tshisekedi, the victims of the Mbobero destruction  made a public call for justice to be served and a return of their land. 

Mrs Olive Lembe Kabila then met with the representatives of the victims and agreed to return 8 hectares of the land to the villagers and give another 9 hectares to a Catholic church. The offer was strongly rejected by the representatives of the victims. Human activist and  civil society leader Jean-Chrisostome Kijana, who now represented the victims, argued that there was no way a 8 hectares land would accommodate families of more than 350 people. 

Under the latest negotiations, according to the Administrator of Kabare Thadee Midero, the former first lady has offered to pay $2000 dollars to each family that owned the disputed land. While some have taken up the offer and signed a Memorundum of Understanding to leave the area, others felt that the amount was little, and that they should be allowed to place their own price. Negotiations are continuing .

DRCONGO: CENTRAL BANK CALLS MYGOLDREV COMPANY A FRAUD AND ASK GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY STOP ITS OPERATION

The Central Bank of the Democratic Republic of Congo has red flagged investment company MYGOLDREV, labelling it a pyramid entity that risks scamming Congolese consumers of their hard earned money. The Bank added that MYGOLDREV's regulations are very weak and does not offer protection to its customers in an event that the company default on its financial obligations or stops operation. 

The Central Bank also believes that the  company is exposed to various risks including possibility of money laundering, financing of terrorist groups and cyber attack, resulting in theft of crypto-currencies.

MYGOLDREV has branded itself as a company that invests in gold; however its operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo allows members of the public to deposit their money in the company in return for profit. The deposit starts from as little as $10 going up to $100000, for VIP members. Members are also rewarded for convincing others to join.

It's for this reason the Central Bank has call its operation illegal, as it resembles all the signs of a pyramid scheme, which is not permitted in the country.

 

CONGOLESE PRESIDENT PROPOSES A MINI-SUMMIT WITH RWANDA, BURUNDI AND UGANDA

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has sent an invitation to Rwanda's Paul Kagame, the President of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, to attend a mini-summit to be held in the Congolese city of Goma.

 The summit aims to discuss issues relating to security, development, trade and health.

For President Tshisekedi this will be another opportunity in  search for solutions in  ending the tension among the neighbouring countries, which Congo is paying the heaviest price.

Relations between Rwanda and Burundi for example have remained strained ever since Kagame hinted that Bujumbura is offering support to rebel movements wishing to destabilise Rwanda. The rebel movements are said to be based and operating in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Meanwhile Burundi will often blame deadly sporadic attacks on its army base on Rwandan soldiers, who sometimes launch these attacks from Congo.

Similar accusations have also damaged relations between Uganda and Rwanda, with the latter naming the government of President Yoweri Museveni as one of the sponsors of the rebel group led by former Rwandan Army General Kayumba Nyamwasa, which wants to overthrow the Kigali administration. Nyamwasa's forces are also active in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As these rebel movements and foreign forces set up their base in Congo, it has now been up to the Congolese army to disarm them and end their activities, an operation that has proven to be challenging  and has led to the deaths of thousands of Congolese people. 

DRCONGO: LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATING USD650 MILLION DEPOSITED IN SUB-ACCOUNTS PARALLEL TO THAT OF THE CENTRAL BANK

 

The Congolese judicial police have confirmed that they are probing a case in which the sum of USD650 million, belonging to the state, was found held in 52 global sub-accounts which ran parrelel to that of the country's Central Bank. The sub-accounts have since been blocked pending an investigation.

According to Congo's Finance Inspector General Jules Alingete, the country has been loosing billions of dollars worth of revenues as a result of state money being paid into sub-accounts, after it's first channeled through other transit accounts, instead of it being deposited directly into the account of the Central Bank. This type of payment clearing and  settlement system, said the Inspector General, contravenes the financial regulations. 

The statement by the Finance Inspector General comes at a time the Central Bank Governor Deogratias Mutombo, had to answer questions regarding the USD100 million paid by mineral company Mutanda Mining, as an advance tax on profit.

The payment was made in 2015 at the request of the Congolese government, which needed the money to prepare for the upcoming elections. 

Then Finance Minister Henri Yav Mulang, had signed an exemption document allowing the transaction for the funds skip certain financial regulations.

Based on the documents produced by Mutanda Mining, the amount was paid in two installments with a sum of USD20 million directly deposited into the account of the Central Bank, while USD80 million was paid  into the Bank of International Settlement, via UBC bank. 

But somehow the amount never made it to the coffers of the national treasury; and now during his interrogation, Deogratias Mutombo has admitted that the Central Bank never received any parts of the USD100 million.

Investigations are continuing as the administration of  President Felix Tshisekedi is determine to recover the money and hold officials accountable.

DRCONGO: YOUTH MOVEMENT TO GO AHEAD WITH MARCH DEMANDING THE EXPULSION OF RWANDAN AMBASSADOR

The Congolese Citizens Movement for Change (LUCHA) said it will hold its planned protests march on 04 September 2020, calling for  the expulsion of Rwandan Ambassador Vincent Karega from the Democratic Republic of Congo; this despite President Felix Tshisekedi having already held talks with the Ambassador after his controversial tweet.

In late August 2020, Mr Karega had challenged a social media message from Congolese blogger Benjamin Babunga, which remembered the August 24 1998 massacre in the Congolese territory of Kasika South Kivu. Babunga attributed the massacre to Rwandan soldiers who according to him killed more than 1100 innocent civilians and burned villages, while on a 60km journey  between Kilungutwe and Kasika.

The Rwandan Ambassador then disputed the narrative in his tweeter timeline, accusing the author of slander and mounting a propoganda, since he could not provide any evidence to back up his claims.

However the Ambassador's  tweet did not go down well with the Congolese political class, who in return accused him of denying what they dubbed the Congolese genocide.

Given the public outcry, Mr Vincent Karega met with President Felix Tshisekedi and later commended the good bilateral relations enjoyed by both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr Karega also ended up deleting his tweet.

 But for some Congolese politicians and civil society movements, the outcome of the meeting between President Tshisekedi  and Karega was simply not enough, LUCHA even went further and accused the Congolese government of treating the Rwandan Ambassador with kids gloves and being indifferent to Karega's revisionist attitude on Congolese atrocities.

 It's a similar sentiment shared by opposition party leader Martin Fayulu who described the tweet by Vincent Karega as part of a systematic denial of the Congolese genocide. For Fayulu this was unacceptable and that any Congolese who is complicit to such denialism should be tried for treason