The United Nations' report on atrocities committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the armed forces of neighbouring countries during a decade-long invasion is finally out.
The report reveals shocking details of human rights abuses committed against civilians.
News of the impending release of the document pricked the authorities in Kigali and Kampala, who threatened to withdraw their forces from peacekeeping assignments in various spots in Africa if the incriminating information is released.
Even before the survey, it was common knowledge that there had been gross human rights violations during the 1993-2003 invasion of DRC by foreign troops.
The report, however, for the first time, documents the extent of the abuses and accuses the players who had occupied the DRC during that decade.
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The fact that the report has detailed cases of the massacre of civilians, rape and the training of child soldiers – some of who have been rehabilitated by Unicef – shows that even when crimes against humanity are committed in remote places with minimal media presence, the truth would eventually come out.
The report confirms that the 1993 battle for Kisangani, for example, was over the control of the vast diamond deposits.
It also says the invading armies carried out attacks without distinguishing between combatants and civilians or between civilian property and military installations.
This report is an eye opener and should help the world in general, and Africa in particular, to minimise cases of human rights violations. It should jerk the international community into finding a solution to the challenges facing the DRC.
We hope the report sends a strong message to warlords and military chiefs of Africa that the world is becoming increasingly vigilant and any violations of human rights, even in remote areas, would eventually come to light long after the crimes.
This calls for the armed forces in Africa to develop internal mechanisms to instil professionalism and respect of human rights.
Systems to detect and punish violators must then be set up and enforced to guard against impunity of individual soldiers.
Although the decade-long assault on the people of DRC ended with the withdrawal of the troops from Uganda and Rwanda, the civilian population in Eastern Congo continues to suffer as armed rebel groups traverse the region.
The international community should urgently explore ways to fix the problem in Congo because the report points out that, the primary motive of the countries that sent their troops to the country had their sights set on its vast mineral resources.
The scramble for mineral resources has bedevilled the former Belgian colony from the time European explorers set their feet in Africa.
It is unacceptable that DRC should continue to bear the brunt of greedy foreign forces too eager to line their pockets with wealth acquired from this country at whatever cost.
The report cites Uganda as having continued to plunder the country even after the war and documents the export of gold through Uganda. On this, President Yoweri Museveni’s Government is not the only culprit.
It is disheartening that several countries in Africa, and the rest of the continents are still engaged in the plunder of Congo.
On the other hand, although President Joseph Kabila’s Government is weak and needs support, it must take the destiny of the vast country in its hands and stop the plunder of its natural resources.
In its engagement with international corporations, its leaders must put aside selfish interests and ensure the major beneficiary of the proceeds from the minerals is the common person.
The international community should help Kinshasa build its army so that it can take control of the eastern region to ensure insurgents from Rwanda and Uganda do not use their territory as military bases.
