DRC must carry its own cross

Editor, Instability in DRC, although it poses a concern to the whole region, will largely be solved by the DRC government and the Congolese people. Leaders in DRC should eliminate all the foreign negative forces, especially FDLR militia, from their territory.

Friday, June 22, 2012
Minister Louise Mushikiwabo with DRCu2019s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Franchophonie, Hon. Raymond Tshibanda Nu2019tungamulongo during a recent meeting. The New Times / File.

Editor,Instability in DRC, although it poses a concern to the whole region, will largely be solved by the DRC government and the Congolese people. Leaders in DRC should eliminate all the foreign negative forces, especially FDLR militia, from their territory.DRC has been and continues to be plundered and destabilised by colonialists and neocolonialists since time immemorial, and its high time Congolese leaders realised they need to solve these unrelenting security problems within their territory once and for all. But in doing so, they must desist from actions that might only worsen the situation or hurting the ordinary people in the process, but rather endeavor to protect them.Rwanda is not paid to do the Congolese work, and shouldn’t therefore be pointed at whenever things go wrong in DRC. Rwandans and their government have had their fair share of a difficult and extremely challenging past, including a genocide, and I am proud that they have managed to address their issues without idly sitting around and crying foul.The world was in position to stop the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, but it was Rwandans themselves who fought hard to bring end it, and have never looked back since.DRC should also find a way out of their recurrent problems and stop blaming others for their own failure.SabinKigaliEditor,I wish to respond to a story that appeared in The New Times of June, 21, titled "Rwanda is not to blame for DRC’s woes – Kagame”. Indeed, Rwanda shouldn’t be blamed for the instability in DRC and Congolese people must carry their own cross.President Paul Kagame has been clear on this matter and don’t know why some people always want to drag Rwanda into the DRC’s internal affairs. I also wish to commend the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mishikiwabo, who has explained clearly Rwanda’s stand regarding the current conflict in DRC.We have previously helped the people of DRC, and it is unfortunate that they have turned to be ungrateful at times.Thadens Kal’s NkeraNyarutarama