Paul Kagame and the M23 Rebels: The Limits of Neo-Colonial Pan-Africanism
The M23 rebels continue to plague the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 rebels were reported on Monday. The M23 rebels have continued to remain a problem for the Congo, in addition to the allegations that Paul Kagame has been supporting these rebels. Kagame has denied these allegations, but this allegations have been supported by the UN.
What is interesting is that when this report was first released, the United States blocked some of its military aid to Rwanda. The United States had previously attempted to protect Kagame against such allegations, but not even the US could continue to ignore the evidence against Kagame.
In the years since that information was exposed by the UN, the M23 rebels continue to terrorize the Congo and Kagame continues to receive blame for backing these rebel groups.
The situation simply exposes a point that I’ve continued to make regarding these neo-colonial African leaders who speak of Pan-Africanism, but fail to practice it.
Bowing before a statue of Marcus Garvey is a meaningless gesture when Kagame’s policies continue to add to the instability in a neighboring nation which has dealt with decades of destabilization efforts from Western governments. African leaders like Kagame speak of Pan-Africanism, but fail to practice it where it matters.
—
Dwayne is the author of Faure Must Go
