The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
DRC’s move
According to Sebijjo of the African Institute, if DRC joins the community it will have to watch its behavior and adds that it could harness advantages it doesn’t know how to. “Uganda is a food basket, Kenya is a financial hub, Tanzania has vast resources and Rwanda is tech savvy, so something good could come out of DRC after it has joined.”
Various observers have spoken positively of DRC’s intentions to join the EAC. Apart from the concerns of the six member community biting more than it can chew, there has been the issue of whether there should not be geographical limits to what a regional grouping can constitute.
If admitted, it means that the region that is the EAC will have ends on both the Indian and Atlantic Ocean. Christelle Malala, a citizen of DRC spoke to The Independent, first about the cultural complexities of her country and then other dynamics.
“What’s sure is that there’s definitely no fear of language change. And even if there were, I would strongly oppose it although I, personally, prefer English and a curriculum like the ones in those systems too.” The official language of DRC is French.
Then the other concerns. “What worries people here is based on the lingering trauma from the (Rwanda) genocide and the ever-present war in the East. What if the trade agreements with Rwanda embolden them in pillaging? Malala wonders and adds, “We’re fine with being impoverished even more if it all backfires… But we refuse to risk mass massacres! We trust Felix (Tshisekedi) not to sell the country, but backstabbing in politics is pretty fair game.”
As a mark of re-shaping DRC under his reign, President Tshisekedi in his letter to Kagame wrote “This request follows the ever-increasing trade between the economic players of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and those of the states of the Community,” he wrote on June 8.
Tshisekedi wrote of his desire to join the Community of regional leaders “so that we can work together for the development of our respective countries and stabilise this part of Africa.”
Malala however is cautious about what DRC has made of its time in another grouping- the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and also wonders what benefits DRC will lose if it leaves the union, as some claim.
She says that Kagame appears to be a lightning rod for her fellow countrymen and women. “It’s ridiculous how the anger towards Kagame is having people talk about some sort of “betrayal” towards the region we were born in!”
She adds that as of now the country is evenly divided on the issue.
For now, Tshisekedi has had an interesting half year report since he assumed the reins in January. He has already visited Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and recently concluded a two day state visit to Tanzania.
He has also struck a friendship with Kagame who has traditionally had a tense relationship with leaders of DRC. Kagame plotted Laurent Kabila’s ouster and did not see eye to eye with Joseph Kabila, the immediate former President of DRC.
Some have argued that Tshisekedi’s decision to sit at the EAC table could be the beginning of a plan for a clean image-DRC-leader that his predecessor could not muster.
In spite of the immense troubles like the rebel-infested eastern part of the country which is also crumbling under an Ebola epidemic, Tshisekedi has taken on his new job with a quiet optimism dealing with each challenge one step at a time.
Malala thinks highly of the new president too. “Felix wants results. Compared to Kabila, he’s more interested in staying in the history books than become rich.” She adds, “Partnering with Kagame is possibly the biggest gamble he would ever make. There can’t be a comeback if it backfires.”
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