Good Journalism on Congo is so rare
but here is some:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgianne-nienaber/kabila-says-peace-before_b_454375.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgianne-nienaber/kabila-says-peace-before_b_454375.html
posted by Gabriello Princip at 10:34 AM
2 Comments:
Hi dear,
I am still reading the Congo stuff. Hence, I was intrigued to read that article which is obviously from February (!). Is the author confused or am I: Nkunda was ousted by Bosco Ntaganda in January 2009 and Hillary Clinton visited Congo/Goma in the same year - and not in 2010.
Gad has not marched towards Kinshasa and Bosco is still pulling the strings in NK.
Do you know the online game "Civilizations IV - Warlords"? Play it and you might better understand the situation in NK than any Huffington Post or academic lecture could ever endeavour. Otherwise, I still find that Stearns' gives good information and analysis (for no money!).
I wish you a good continuation of your mission in Congo. Have a good 2011! Cheers.
Hi Fergus,
on the last day of the year one can comment with hindsight on articles published at the beginning of 2010. Being myself, like you are, a moderate Congoptimiste, Georgianne's views were too apocalyptic for my liking even at the time. Now we know: Gad didn't march to Kinshasa, Bosco is neither in hell nor in The Hague, and the overall situation in the Kivus did not degenerate to what it was in 2008. Let me share with you a few thoughts:
1. Armed rebellions require strong outside support. None of the rag tag militia groups in DRC receives any assistance (from Uganda or Rwanda for example)and can therefore not fundamentally change the equilibrium of power in its favour.
2. Eastern DRC is a war and loot economy. Those profiting from that mode of aquisition will continue to do so, regardless of what uniform they wear.
3. In order to understand the dynamics of the conflict, I suggest you start playing the computer game "Civilization IV - Warlords". This will be a much better use of your time than reading academic analysis.
What else to expect for 2011? More of the same!
Cheers, Karl
Post a Comment
<< Home