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Congo RDC UN troops in Kisangani |
UN
M0NUC‘s and the UN peacekeeping force’s presence in Kisangani: delusions and hopes
During the past two weeks, United Nations peacekeeping soldiers have been arriving in Kisangani, but members of the United Nations Observer Mission for Congo (MONUC) have been present here for nearly a year. When the UN observers first arrived, hopes were high among the civilian population that at long last they would be freed from the clutches of the rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), and especially from the Ugandan and Rwandan invaders. This would have been a political, military and economic liberation.
Civil servants and government officials haven’t been paid for three years. The people’s purchasing power is nil. There’s a great deal of petty annoyance from the police and citizens are regularly reduced to silence. But in spite of all this, there have been small openings in the job market. Some civil servants have given up their jobs temporarily, with the connivance of their superiors, to accept better employment with MONUC: as data processing specialists, drivers, gatekeepers, gardeners, cooks — in other words — a godsend for the population.
Disappointments
On the political and military level, people thought the foreign troops would withdraw immediately and that the unpaid central government soldiers, not much better than a rabble and only good for plundering their fellow citizens, would be neutralized. But the first great disappointment came with the six days’ war, 5-10 June 2000, when the Ugandan and Rwandan forces were at each other’s throats. This war took place with MONUC personnel looking on. At one time, people may have thought that MONUC‘s presence would put a damper on Rwandan-Ugandan hostilities, but experience proved the UN was unable to protect them. Within six days, 7,000 shells fell on Kisangani, killing people and destroying property.
The second disappointment was the so-called departure of Rwandan troops from the city. Following their defeat, the Ugandan forces had moved off towards Buta, taking with them their booty, their mistresses and their children born from these unions. But the Rwandan troops only pretended to leave the city, and made as if they were heading for the Ubundu area situated on the Kisangani-Goma highway. In reality, they disappeared into the bush only to reappear in dugout canoes on the Congo River, to re-occupy their former positions. Others «lost themselves» among Kisangani’s civilian population, exchanging their uniforms for mufti. But a soldier is a soldier and their bearing betrayed them. All this took place with MONUC looking on.
The third disappointment took place recently when the Moroccan UN troops failed to arrive. What happened? Quite simply, the RCD politicians and military personnel changed their minds. The civilian population was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the four planes carrying the UN troops, as they had pinned all their hopes on them. The four planes appeared on the horizon, performed a number of turns over Kisangani and then made off to land in Bangui, Central African Republic. Five days later, when the UN troops did eventually arrive, they were welcomed into Kisangani, but at the same time the people were none too sure if the UN soldiers could do anything to help them. The fact is, the RCD rebels, or rather their allies backing them, seem unable to decide what the UN troops can or cannot do. Even if the UN soldiers, with all their sophisticated weaponry, give the impression they’re firmly established in Kisangani, doubts continue to circulate about the effectiveness of their presence. People remember what happened to similar UN forces in other parts of Africa, e.g.in Sierra Leone where they were taken as hostages by the rebels.
The Lusaka Peace Accord
One thing is sure — Kisangani’s citizens seem unaware or at the very least, ill-informed about the spirit and contents of the Lusaka Peace Accord which was signed a long way away and certainly without their civil society representatives being present. Because of this, the people don’t really know how peace can be attained.
Above all, Kisangani’s citizens want to see the Ugandans finally packing their bags as soon as possible. In spite of what has already been stated, some Ugandans are still encamped 107 km from Kisangani, on the road towards Ituri. Meanwhile, the Rwandans are dictating what happens in the city, no matter what MONUC thinks about it. The people would also like to see the UN soldiers disarm and effectively control the forces described as «negative» (e.g. the Interahamwe, rebels from Burundi etc.) in the Lusaka Accord, plus the rebel Congolese forces. It’s only then that the United Nations observers and military will really be able to take in hand the city’s civil administration (as in Kosovo), and prepare the ground for the arrival of Congo’s central authority as soon as possible. It’s necessary that the inter-congolese national dialogue takes place afterwards.
What is MONUC‘s role? Kisangani’s citizens don’t know. According to the Lusaka Peace Accord, MONUC‘s duties are: To check that fighting has really stopped; to oversee the disengagement of the troops; to work out a withdrawal programme of all foreign forces presently in Congo. The UN peacekeeping force is there to protect MONUC‘s personnel and is mandated to intervene by force of arms, only when MONUC‘s people are attacked.
It’s easy to understand, then, that Kisangani’s citizens feel let down. For three years, they’ve been waiting in vain for an end to the war. But, despite everything, they still dare hope.
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PeaceLink 2001 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement