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Tuesday 7 May 2013

Former M23 chairman: ‘I cannot do politics on Rwandan soil’


Former M23 chairman: 'I cannot do politics on Rwandan soil'

Ngoma camp
Jean-Marie Runiga (L) talks to the Minister in charge of refugees, Mukantabana, during a tour of Ngoma internment camp where the former M23 members are now staying. (photo Jean-Christophe Nsanzimana)
On March 23, 2012, a mu­tiny was born in the DRC, which adopted the name M23.The armed rebel-group was led by a duo of outspoken person­alities: the army Chief of staff Brig Gen Sultan Makenga (then Colo­nel) and the head-politician (chair­man) of the group, Bishop Jean-Marie Runiga. The two icons had a tight relationship, and declared to be fighting for one cause: peace in the Eastern DRC, and the safe­ty of the Congolese Kinyarwanda speaking community.
Almost a year later (February 27), Runiga was overthrown by the mutiny's Military High Command chaired by Makenga. The reason: accusations towards the head-pol­itician of financial embezzlement, division, deceit, ethnic hatred and political immaturity.
Following the break-up, it was reported that forces loyal to Runi­ga attacked the Makenga side kill­ing soldiers as well as civilians in Rutshuru (where Makenga was then based). In the end, Runiga and his loyalists fled to Rwanda, in the night of March 14-15on the eve of their group's first anniversary.
In Rwanda, Runiga and his group, including Brig Gen Baudu­in Ngaruye, were disarmed and placed under internment subject to a period of verification to see if they really have renounced to their military activities. The former fighters and politicians are there­after moved to Ngoma internment camp in Eastern Rwanda miles from the Eastern DRC.
It is there that we find Runiga, in a back suit, white shirt and red tie, as he prepares to receive a del­egation of ambas­sadors and other diplomats accred­ited to Rwanda. "We decided to flee to Rwanda because it was the nearest countries to our positions (Kibum­ba). Had we been near Uganda, An­gola or any other country, we would have gone there," Runiga says in impeccable French.

"The Kinshasa government had done all to tear us apart. If we would have been supported by Rwanda, we wouldn't have arrived here."

Concerning the break-up of M23, Runiga blames it on Makenga's side being corrupted by Kinshasa. "The Kinshasa government had done all to tear us apart. This was because we didn't have a support. Of course, people will say that our presence in Rwanda now confirms the reports that the government here supported us but let me tell you, if we would have been sup­ported by Rwanda, we wouldn't have arrived here. The infighting occurred, because we were out of means, which made it possible for Kinshasa to corrupt the others."
Yet that doesn't mean that he has given up hope to play a role in his country. "We have abandoned the military activities, but on the politi­cal side, we have a plan for the Con­golese society and we will continue to defend them," Runiga says.
For former M23 head-politician, the cycles of violence and hostili­ties in the DRC are symptoms of a bigger problem. "The real causes are the lack of a responsible and visionary leadership, poor gover­nance, the lack of a government which can create an army able of maintaining internal and external security. The DRC's problems are political," he observes.
 'I have never believed in war'
Runiga says that his return to DRC depends on the political and security climate. "I have never be­lieved in war. The armed fight­ing cannot be an end to the DRC's problems. We have been disarmed and renounced to military activi­ties. However, we'll continue the political fight. If conditions allow, I will go back to play the democratic game with my fellow Congolese. I cannot do politics on Rwandan soil."
For Runiga, it is clear that the allegations of external forces are nonsense, it is the system which is the enemy. "What happened to the M23 is a hiccup. It's the fruit of a corruption initiated by a govern­ment which is unable of solving the problems of its citizens. Instead of solving the is­sue, they pre­fer dealing with the conse­quences."
Concerning the UN Secu­rity Council sending a bri­gade to fight the armed reb­els in the East­ern DRC, M23 included, Runi­ga sees it as a non-effective solution.
"There are some armed groups which are backed by the Congolese army (FARDC). Will the brigade also fight the FARDC and its al­lies? I don't think so. The chances for the UN Brigade to succeed are narrow. Even if it the brigade van­quished all the mutinies in the area, that's not the real problem! The real problem is lack of leadership, and those rebels are just consequences. Why are people not focusing on the causes rather than consequences? Armed fights are nothing but re­sults of a bad leadership. The Se­curity Council is not seeking non-lasting solutions."
Posted by  on May 5 2013. Filed under Features,Other NewsWeekly Highlights. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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-“The root cause of the Rwandan tragedy of 1994 is the long and past historical ethnic dominance of one minority ethnic group to the other majority ethnic group. Ignoring this reality is giving a black cheque for the Rwandan people’s future and deepening resentment, hostility and hatred between the two groups.”

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