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A Step Towards Reconciliation and Peace in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

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A Step Towards Reconciliation and Peace in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Rethinking Social Justice to Restore Forgotten Memories: A step towards reconciliation and peace in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The cases of Kasika and Makobola Thesis in Moral Theology Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the S.T.L. Degree from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry By: Patrick Nshombo Mugisho, SJ Mentors: Mentor: Professor James Keenan, SJ & Co-Mentor: Professor Daniel Daly Date: April 26, 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................... 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................................................... 3 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER I: JUST OR UNJUST WAR? ANATOMY OF A FORGOTTEN CONFLICT ............... 7 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 7 1. Overview of the War in Eastern Congo .......................................................................................... 10 2. A background: The Intervention of the Zairian government in Rwandan politics .................... 11 3. Kivu’s war and its protagonists ....................................................................................................... 19 3.1. The FDLR (Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda). ............................................ 22 3.2. AFDL (Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo) : ....................... 23 3.3. FPR (Front Patriotique Rwandais) and APR (Armée Patriotique Rwandaise) ................... 24 3.4. RCD (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie) ........................................................... 25 3.5. Mayi- Mayi or Mai-Mai groups : ............................................................................................... 26 4. Kasika and Makobola: Two Tales, one reality. .............................................................................. 27 4.1. The Kasika and Kilungutwe massacres: ................................................................................... 27 4.2. The Makobola Massacres .......................................................................................................... 33 5. From “Liberation” to Retaliation: evidence of an Unjust war ..................................................... 39 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 42 CHAPTER II: THE FAILURE OF HUMANITY FACING THE TEST OF RESPONSIBILITY . 44 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 44 1. The failure of International Community’s military intervention in the Eastern Congo Conflict ................................................................................................................................................................ 46 2. A Predatory National Policy: "bellyaching" against Patriotism .................................................. 53 2.1. A failed start in the form of government and the state regime .............................................. 54 2.2. Carelessness and complicity in evil of Congolese authorities (1965 -2002) ........................... 58 3. The Congolese Army: Portrait of a giant with feet of clay ............................................................ 64 3.1. The Congolese Army at independence: a body deprived of its head (1960-1965) .................... 65 3.2. Privatization and corruption of the Zairean Armed Forces (1965 à 1997) .............................. 67 3.3. The Disintegration of the Democratic Republic of Congo Armed Forces 1997- 2002) ........ 70 Conclusion: A possible way out of the crisis: social justice ............................................................... 72 CHAPTER III: SOCIAL JUSTICE TO RESTORE FORGOTTEN MEMORIES ........................... 74 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 74 1. Rethinking Social Justice: Nancy Fraser and Pope Francis in dialogue ...................................... 77 1.1. Why Nancy Fraser and Pope Francis?..................................................................................... 77 1.2. The Urgency of Social Justice Paradigm Change. .................................................................. 79 1.3. The ideal solution for social justice........................................................................................... 85 2. Moral Recommendations for Social Justice and Restoration of Forgotten Memories ............... 93 2.1. To the International Community .............................................................................................. 93 2.2. To the Congolese Government and the Congolese Army ....................................................... 98 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 104 GENERAL CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................... 106 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................... 108 MAPS REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 119 1. Eastern and Central Africa countries ........................................................................................... 119 2. Kivu Region in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo ............................................................. 120 3. Armed groups in the Kivu region .................................................................................................. 121 4. Kasika and Makobola Region ........................................................................................................ 122 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To revolt against the destructive fury of war and violence is the perilous step that has plunged us into the heart of the darkness of death, to exhume those whose, human wickedness, wished to silence memories without their opinion and their desire. With the help of those whose struggle for social justice is matched only by their love for human beings, we have worked to restore forgotten memories. I would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, my mentor Professor James Keenan, SJ, and my co-mentor Professor Daniel Daly whose academic support, corrections, encouragement, insightful exchanges, and guidance gave charm and harmony to my epistemological choreography. To my reviewers Nadine Sangang, Steve Nicholson SJ, Peter Mvondo, I sincerely thank you for the availability and commitment. For the pertinent advice, the criticism, and the invaluable exchanges, I thank the members of my Campion community, Papa Jean Bele, Levelt Michaud SJ, Joseph Constantino SJ, Yves Kulondwa, Gaell Magne, Bertin Mushagalusa, Roger Kakule, Ephraim Nlandu. The emotional and effective presence – moral support, and constructive remarks of Marie Jeanne (my mother), my brothers and sisters, Gaell Magne, Mama Lea Bele, Falone N'cho, Adrienne Nyere, friends, and the Congolese community of Boston (Mwinda) – supported my march and my determination to fight for the restoration of these forgotten memories. Only God will pay you in the measureless measure of his goodness. The intellectual finesse of Pope Francis, Charles Onana, Isidore Ndaywel, David Van Reybrouck, Nancy Fraser, Julia Kristeva, Marie Beatrice Umutesi, Reichberg, helped me find my own way and forge my critical mind. Finally, all this work has only been possible by the grace and the presence at our side of the one who, from all times, is love and patience. All my gratitude to the Almighty Father through His Son Jesus Christ in the Unity of the Holy Spirit. 3 GENERAL INTRODUCTION For almost three decades, Eastern DRC has been going through a global crisis that today no one can describe in the right terms. Since the so-called war of liberation, the people, flora, and fauna of this part of the country have instead fallen into domination and predation that have swallowed up everything in its path. Tons of reports have been written, thousands of pages of reports have been transmitted, voices have been raised to cry out, documentaries, and all sorts of media have been used by human rights activists, religious leaders, enlightened politicians, national and international organizations to denounce what has today become a genocide, but all of that has been done in vain. When we surveyed national and international opinion, we were shocked to find that nearly 12 million souls – the numbers are frightening –have been snatched from life in unprecedented violence and brutality without frustrating the stewards of national and international politics. Men, women, children, and even fetuses were savagely massacred in a way that even the worst of the barbarians could not imagine. Mutilations, decapitations, skinning, suffocation, strangulation, burning and burying people alive, rape of men, women, children, and even babies, disemboweling
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