Former Nigerian president, Abasanjo may not have been the most popular president in Nigeria, but he is now doing a wonderful job as an ambassador of peace. Abasanjo has been in East Africa, specifically Kenya, to try and bring peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This will be a tall order.
First things first. Congo is rich in minerals, most of it untapped. The DRC has the potential to provide enough electricity for most of Africa, if not all. All it would need is peace.
It is because of it's resources that it will never be peaceful. First of all, it is too big and with very little infrastructure, making it difficult to govern. Politically, it has always been divided between the people of the East who speak Kiswahili and English, and those of the West who speak Lingala and French. President Kabila is from the East.
Now come in Museveni and Kagame. Museveni has an interest in some area of the DRC where it is romoured, there could be some oil. The area is in Congo, but an unstable Congo will not be able to atake a claim to the oil find. Now bring in Nkunda. This man is Rwandesde and has no business being in Congo
Nkunda has been in Eastern Congo for some time now, and claims he is protecting Tutsis from attacks by Hutus who fled to Congo. But then Kagame of Rwanda is Tutsi. So why aren't these people going back to Rwanda? And that brings us to the minerals, and expansionist aims of some of our African leaders.
Something else that very few people talk about; Ugandans do not consider Museveni as being Ugandan enough. They say he has some roots in Rwanda. So what we could have is Kagame, a Tusti, Nkunda a Tusti and Museveni a Tusti triangle?
There are many minerals in the Congo. Everytime you buy or use a mobile phone or laptop, bear in mind that it is made from materials mined in Congo, but that only benefitted individuals who would like to see the war continue. So it's all about business.
The other side about the minerals is the Government agents, including the Government Armed Forces. They also control some of the land and charg levies. There is no guarantee that the levies end up in Government coffers. So could some people in Government perpetuating the war for personal benefit? This is Congo, and a lot of things happen.
Abasanno can try, and we all wish him well and success. But if he succeeds, he will have done what no other man has ever succeeded. GOOD LUCK ,ABASANJO.
