News that DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi broke the cease fire was celebrated in Bujumbura – as expected by observers.
The war-profiteering machinery headed by Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye aka Gen. Neva had done everything to provoke all out war with the AFC-M23 liberation movement.
For months, the Burundian regime mobilized thousands more soldiers (in addition to the 20,000 already deployed), bombed Banyamulenge villages across the border, and hosted mercenaries in anticipation of a collapse of the cease fire between Felix Tshisekedi’s forces and the AFC-M23 liberation movement in DRC.
Finally, Tshisekedi heeded their wish (which is also his wish) and launched a full scale attack against the AFC M23 liberated areas. For Burundi – the poorest country in the world – war in DRC Congo represents a very important revenue stream.
War in DRC is a unique opportunity for Gen. Neva to loots Congolese resources while charging millions in US dollars to Tshisekedi in “soldier for hire scheme” that effectively turn Burundian soldiers into mercenaries.
Tshisekedi and Ndayishimiye bank on a simple strategy: launch military offensives in violation of the ceasefire deal, and offer huge mining concession for protection in case of defeat. The Tshisekedi-Ndayishimiye alliance does so to maintain Congo’s eastern provinces in perpetual conflict.
This in turn facilitates their looting and fake mining concession games. Peace in Congo would see a flurry of powerful allies run to Congo to cash in on lucrative mining deals, and Tshisekedi would not be able to keep his promises.
Peace also poses another challenge to the war-mongering duo. What would they do with the thousands of radicalized youth and their other genocidal terrorist-bandits allies (FDLR, Wazalendos, Imbonerakure etc) that are equally lured with promises of wealth and power?
Unfortunately, innocent civilians – particularly the Congolese-Tutsis communities of which the Banyamulenge bear the brunt of Kinshasa and Burundian regime atrocities – continue to suffer. They are victim to war crimes and massacres as countless peace initiatives are sabotaged.
Tshisekedi and Ndayishimiye want war; they need it for survival.
But one day, it will not end well for them.