REBONE TAU: SA should consider calling back old hands Mbeki, Museveni to resolve DRC conflict

The political instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been going on for many decades, seemingly without a long-lasting solution. 

There have been many mediation processes, such as the Sun City Agreement that happened during the era of President Thabo Mbeki. This process came out of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement that was signed in 1999 and which, notably, also involved Rwanda and Uganda. 

The Sun City dialogue, officially known as the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, took place from 2001 to 2003. This process led to the DRC having four vice presidents. This meant that the president of the DRC, then Joseph Kabila, could not take decisions alone. 

If you look at the size of the DRC, it is very big, and some would argue that having four vice presidents helped to bring some stability in the country. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa should consider appointing former president Thabo Mbeki as his special envoy to the DRC. Wisdom and the historical context will be needed at this point in attempts to engage the role players in this conflict. 

Women and children are suffering in the DRC and South Africa has lost troops on the ground. Have we asked ourselves how many of the citizens of the DRC have died since the conflict started? 

In 1998, former president Nelson Mandela, in his role as the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), called twin summits of regional leaders in Pretoria to engage on a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the DRC. The then Presidential spokesperson, Parks Mankahlana, said: "We believe in a peaceful solution, and I think that is the attitude of the majority of the heads of state in this region."

It is not for the first time that Rwanda is accused of being active in the DRC. The then ambassador, Ben Karenzi, who was Rwanda’s ambassador to South Africa, denied allegations that his government was involved in the DRC. This was in 1998 when Mandela called the twin summits. 

This is because Mandela, before the twin summits, met with Kabila, the late former president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe, Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and former president of Rwanda, Pasteur Bizimungu. 

Those engaging on the DRC file need to engage some of those who were in these meetings to get a better understanding of the engagements and disagreements in the meetings. 

There is the Pretoria Accord, which was signed by Rwanda and the DRC around 2002, during the era of Mbeki. That is why it is important for Ramaphosa to appoint Mbeki as his special envoy to assist him, since South Africa has played a significant role in the DRC when it comes to political engagements. 

The South African government must not treat the matter of the DRC as if it is a new thing. While trying to find new solutions, it is best to bring in those who have been involved historically, as they have all the information on what was discussed in those meetings. 

Reading reports of the Human Rights Watch, it is painful to see how women continue to be raped in this conflict. How many women and children should continue to suffer? Have we ever asked ourselves over the years how many children in the DRC have been born out of rape? 

The ordinary people of the DRC don’t know how it is to live a peaceful life without having to run for your life. The minerals of the DRC are a curse to the people of the DRC. Their country should be rich, and the majority of the people should not be living in fear and poverty. There is a need for political will from the leadership of the DRC, SADC region and the rest of Africa to bring stability to the DRC. 

Since its independence from Belgium in 1960, the DRC has never been stable. Have we asked ourselves what the people of Goma are going through? While noting that SA troops have lost lives, we must not forget the people of Goma. 

Another issue is one of a tribal nature, that most people are avoiding to talk about. A division sewed by the Belgians, tribalism has led to people being denied citizenship, and this was part of the Sun City Agreement. Did the government of the DRC deal with this matter and resolve it? The Banyamulenge issue needs to be resolved at some point. 

DRC should continue to be on the agenda of SADC summits until they bring stability and make sure there is accountability on what is happening in the country. The SADC should appoint a high-level panel consisting of people who have worked on the DRC before, as well as new people, as balance is key. 
One of the things that needs to happen is a joint summit between SADC and the East African Community (EAC), since the DRC is a member of both bodies.

There should be a discussion between Kenya’s President William Ruto and Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangangwa, as they are the current chairpersons of these regional bodies. Both bodies have called special summits individually to discuss the same country. 

One of the reasons why it is important for both communities to work together is because there is also a Nairobi Process that has been taking place. 

In 2013, there was a peace agreement that was signed by the government of the DRC and the M23 rebel group. And one of the issues they agreed on was for the M23 to transform into a legitimate political party. In 2007, there was a Nairobi process between the DRC and Rwanda. You have another peace agreement in 2002. 

There is a need for a different attitude by our leaders when dealing with the DRC conflict, to harmonise the many different processes by the SADC and EAC. There is a need for agreements to be fully implemented by those who have signed, and they need to be monitored.