With Nkunda in hand, Kigali can have its cake and eat it

While Nkunda’s CNDP easily walked over demoralised and undisciplined Congolese troops, the ex-FAR and Interahamwe were more formidable opponents.

With them in disarray, little else would have stopped Nkunda reaching the capital. Except, of course, the Rwandans. The price was not cheap.

This writer has it on fairly good authority that beyond allowing joint military action with Rwanda, the Kabila government has also given Kigali a long-term role in some kind of “security buffer” in eastern DRC.

Nkunda will probably be re-inserted in this security zone, where the Rwandese would continue to keep him on a short leash. It would also be a good deal for Nkunda, give Kabila peace of mind, and allow Kigali to have its cake and eat it.

Charles Onyango-Obbo is Nation Media Group’s managing editor for convergence and new products. E-mail: cobbo@nation.co.ke