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By: Rpf Gakwerere
By May 1997, Rwanda and other allies managed to sweep out dictator Mobutu and install Laurent-Désiré Kabila. The insurgency had started in highlands of Minembwe under the umbrella of Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL).
As noted in part 1, despite the refusal by Banyamulenge cultural leader – Vedaste Karojo Sunzu and his son Rwema Gerdarme, on the idea of starting the rebellion in their ancestral lands, criminal Paul Kagame went a head and sparked a rebellion from these lands. A rebellion that moved swiftly in the beautiful and mineral rich lands of Zaire (now DR Congo) to remove Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga.
After the down fall of Dictator Mobutu, criminal Paul Kagame didn’t forget how the cultural King of Banyamulenge – Vedaste Karojo Sunzu and his sons Rwema Gerdarme refused his initial proposition and he hadn’t forgiven or forgotten.
Meanwhile, in Kinshasa divisions started appearing in the new young army and within the regime of Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Banyamulenge officers within the new army started viewing Rwandan soldiers with suspicion and despised them, especially at how they were plundering the country at industrial scale. And during this time, Gen James Kabarebe was the army commander of the new DR CONGO army.
These Banyamulenge military officers led by a young Brig Gen Anselme Masasu Nindaga were of the view that Rwandan forces ought to withdraw back to Rwanda, because their presence in cities around DR Congo were creating uneasy and resentment within Congolese – population.
Criminal Paul Kagame was always being briefed by his former ADC, James Kabarebe who had been parachuted in Kinshasa to build a new DR Congo Army. With this information, criminal Paul Kagame devised means to destroy Banyamulenge hegemony starting with their cultural leader.
In 1998, the cultural King of Banyamulenge – Vedaste Karojo Sunzu was becoming frail and sickly due to old age-related health problems. Criminal Paul Kagame through his DMI which at this time was under the control of Col Karenzi Karake and Major Jack Nziza opted for the son, Rwema Gerdarme.
DMI operatives picked Rwema Gerdarme in Kalemie town in Katanga province, a colonial harbour town located at the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Rwema Gerdarme was in Kalemie for business commitment.
Rwema Gerdarme thought he was being taken to Katanga’s provincial capital for questioning, instead the military helicopter was heading to Kigali Rwanda. Remember, during this period, security institutions in DR Congo were under the control of Rwanda forces, they were key decision makers.
TO BE CONTINUED……
