Two weeks ago our own Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) attacked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) bases in eastern Congo.
Reports had it that the artillery and airstrikes were
concentrated on an area of about 150 square kilometers. The ADF cannot have
enjoyed the experience and while news is scanty, given the area that was
flattened fatalities must have run in dozens never mind casualties.
Unfortunately, the operation is open ended with no time
frame set to pacify an area, mostly dense tropical forest, bigger than the
whole of Uganda.
The repercussions on our budget will be negative but we have
to trust that this is a sacrifice we have to make with the long term in mind.
"For starters the security threat that the ADF pose cannot be
overemphasized, but even more important is the security threat of having huge
lawless, ungovernable areas bordering us. If it is not the ADF it will be
someone else who has evil intentions on us using the Congolese jungles as his
launch pad...
It does not help that there are more than 1 hundred armed militia’s
roaming the area praying on the population and one would imagine happy to sell
their “expertise” to the highest bidder. The emergence of these militias is not
all down to criminal intent. In an area where the state has been absent for
coming to half a century people have to protect themselves and sometimes in so
doing they may just decide to prey on weaker neighbours and soon there is a full
scale arms race in the area. And what is to stop them one day cross our
imaginary borders and attacking on Ugandans?
The sustainable thing to do is to bring the area under some
kind of central control by force initially, which should have been the job of
Kinshasa but more importantly by creating an environment in which economic
activity can flourish.
Sustainable peace comes from interdependence. Trade is right
up there as one of the best ways to create interdependence. When we have no
mutual benefit to ourselves war and predation become a real possibility.
So the collaboration with the Kinshasa to improve the road
network in eastern Congo is actually what we should be focused on. Any military
victories will be temporary but making movement in the area easier is not only
useful from a security perspective but will automatically encourage the
movement of people, goods and services.
An interesting story from the Mobutu Ssese Seko era explains
why DRC – larger than western Europe, has less tarmaced roads than Uganda.
During a state visit to neighbouring Central African Republic, then president Jean
Bedel Bokassa drove Mobutu through wide, tree lined streets to his palace. At some
point Mobutu, who was supposed to be impressed by this show of development, couldn’t
hold it any longer, “My friend these goods roads of yours are how you will be
overthrown!” he said.
This egocentric thinking has doomed the DRC to confusion and
poverty.
"As it is now DRC and mostly the eastern expanse is fast becoming Uganda’s largest trading partner accounting for up to $400 million in exports. We have seen in our own lifetimes how little tarmac can totally change the economy of neighbourhoods and regions....
The 200 km of paved road that we shall help build in the
region are just a tip of what is necessary to unlock the vast potential of that
region and may very well serve as a useful stimulus for our economy to rebound
in coming years.
If in these times when roads are not usable year around we
are doing almost half a billion dollars in trade it is conceivable that we can
more than double that with the most basic of road infrastructure in place.
Improved economic activity in the area will make joining up
in militias less attractive and once the communities have tasted peace and
stability will be loath to support any militias.
"Of course for the DRC they have to step up. Uganda’s presence is at best temporary, we would rather have our sons and daughters back home than roaming the jungles of Congo with a target on their backs....
Which brings us to the wider question of regional
integration. It starts with recognizing that our borders, really only lines on paper,
do not insulate us from the poverty and underdevelopment on the other side. That
shared prosperity of first border communities and then whole regions is how
will keep our worst excesses from consuming us all.
If it takes a handful of disheveled types running around
playing war, to quicken the cause for integration so be it.
