This day is one that really has to be planned – Valentines Day? Flowers, chocolates, wines (and spirits), not forgetting dinner for two in a fine hotel or restaurant. It’s not really what I want to talk about – when I hear my neighbours fighting, I worry about my safety and that of my family and conclude that I may be the next one to be hit!
Next door, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), conflict upon conflict has been the order of the day for years. Now the latest is AFC/M23 rebels taking over Kavumu town, which is situated in South Kivu Province, including its commercial airport, and are continuing southwards towards Bukavu City. President Felix Tshisekedi attended the Munich Security Conference in Germany, in efforts to receive more international support to deal with the rebels. His aide must have whispered in his ear, in the middle of a meeting that, Kavumu has fallen to the rebels. Alas, what is a man to do – moreover on Valentine’s Day???
EAC-SADC agreed that the way forward is dialogue, but President Tshisekedi is adamant. This second presidential term must be his most challenging. How will peace prevail in DRC?
The U.S Embassy in Kinshasa has put out a security alert, next will be for American citizens to leave the country. Other embassies will follow.
According to reports, AFC/M23 rebels are in Bagira commune which is 11 Kms to Bukavu city. We await to see how EAC-SADC handles this situation in DRC, or events happening too fast for their planning purposes? Unless I am wrong, President Tshisekedi seems to be looking to Europe for answers. It’s like a beautiful lady who doesn’t know which guy she should allow to take her out for valentines.
