A stupid coup!

THERE IS confusion in the rebel held territory in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mbusa Nyamwisi a rebel leader claims to have toppled the RCD-Kisangani leader, Prof Ernest Wamba dia Wamba and Jean-Pierre Bemba head of Congolese Liberation Front (FLC). It is a shame that the confusion in the rebel ranks is coming at a time when Kinshasa regime is considering national dialogue. The rebels should be preparing their participation instead of tearing themselves apart. Mbusa’s move threatens the implementation of the Lusaka Peace Accord. At the moment when the world is expecting peaceful resolution of conflict in Congo the coup is certainly disruptive. It can not be a solution to the larger problem. If the rebel leaders cannot put up with each other and are wrestling over leadership then they cannot be fighting for the good of the people. The rebels have often justified their war as a struggle to liberate the people of Congo. If this is true then there shouldn’t be any leadership wrangles. They should be working together to advance the cause of the people. The coup demeans the struggle to a power scramble. And turns the liberation of the beleaguered country into a bad joke. If the rebel leaders are not united and are jostling over leadership of the rebel organisations then they don’t have a shred of moral authority to be fighting for the people. Mbusa cannot justify his move because it is selfish in intent. It smacks of lust for power. And re-writes the cause of the war from being popular to individual crave. Mbusa should stop behaving badly and get back to the fold to work with Bemba and Wamba for the good of the Congolese. It is time for lasting peace.