In November 2013, I wrote about the “Star” leading the State or Safehouse in the DRC. The idea came from the Bible’s story and the star that guided the “wise men” towards where Jesus was born. These men saw a “strange star” that meant the King was born. Coming from the Far East, they had to pay tribute to the newly born King.
The wise men then went to the Egyptian King to enquire about the newborn King. Enquiring this question from the Egyptian King was one of the huge mistakes they would have avoided. As they got it wrong in translating the star’s message, the “star” went missing until they left King Herod’s palace. It is afterward that the star appeared again and led them to Bethlehem, where Jesus was. Whether this story is true or false, it depends on someone’s level of belief, but the key message is that even “wise men’ can misinterpret signs they are used to.
1996-2025 rebels in Eastern DRC.
From the 1990s, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has had a rich experience of how access to power. At least, there is a “star” that guides “ambitious wise men” to access political and military positions in Kinshasa.
By mid-October 1996, the world started to hear about the emergence of warfare in Eastern Zaïre, including in South Kivu. At an early stage in its formation, the Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo/Zaire (AFDL) rebellion foregrounded grievances of the Banyamulenge [and Congolese Tutsi] in its demands. Within a few weeks, Uvira city fell to AFDL forces, and the Congolese public opinion was informed about the existence of this new Alliance, with its heterogeneous composition. We came to learn that Laurent Desiré Kabila was the official AFDL’s spokesperson. He later decided to proclaim himself as the newly established power in Kinshasa, as the President and the Head of State. Zaïre would be renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Laurent Desiré Kabila has spent almost 20 years in Tanzania as a political exile. No matter how strong you may be in guerrillas, it was extremely uncertain that Kabila would occupy such a highly dreamed position after 20 years of interruption. Dreams of replacing President Mobutu were likely becoming fantasies. Laurent Kabila has spent almost 10 years in Fizi territory fighting for regime change in Kinshasa.
Fortunately, Kabila might have received a surprising phone call (whether evening or early morning) telling him to revive his dreams and join a journey of “liberators”. He got a “star” if not a “military force” to guide him to the State House in Kinshasa, the so-called Palais de la Nation. It only took a period of 7 months to have Laurent Desiré Kabila be a self-proclaimed President of the DRC, a country of 2,345,410 Km2 in the heart of Africa. The more the “liberators” approached Kinshasa, the more they forgot that there are discriminated groups in this country. The “star” and the “wise men” agreed to share key strategic positions (political and military).
Social Grievances & political competition
The feeble Alliance (AFDL) did not last longer. In August 1998, a new journey started, namely, a new war broke up. The same “star” managed to propel other “wise men and women” to share the military and political positions. Again, they forgot about those people whom they claimed to fight for, including the most persecuted communities. In 2004, following the Sun City Accord (2002), another journey, another war broke up again. I believe the new “liberators” were inspired by the “star”. The “liberators” claimed to fight for the protection of the mostly persecuted communities. The journey ended in a sort of mixed blessing. This time, some “liberators” were forced to join “safe houses,” while others managed to share portions of military and political structures. The protection of the persecuted communities became a secondary debate.
In 2012-2013, another journey broke up again with similar claims. Most of the “liberators” were sent to “safe” camps. As powerful entities found their common ground, the protection of the persecuted communities became a secondary debate. The “star” tends to downplay its role, knowing that there would be another opportunity to “attract followers”. Since 2021, another journey has been going on with roughly similar claims that “liberators” have to protect persecuted communities. The “star” has found another bunch of people ready to surf on others’ grievances. Undoubtedly, powerful individuals will emerge (are emerging) from this ongoing journey. The least one can expect is, the protection of persecuted communities is no longer a big issue. Watch out, the “star” knows that in a few years to come, it won’t require more effort to get “new followers”. Thus, I urge that there should be mechanisms to sustainably tackle all the issues at stake incluing the protection of the communities facing extinction.
Eastern Congo Tribune Team
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