Vital Kamerhe, Chief of Staff of Felix Tshisekedi in 2019 Before Imprisonment for Corruption and then Rehabilitation

Early in the  morning of May 19, 2024, a group of armed men in military uniforms, and  waving the Zaire flags,  attacked the residence of Vital Kamerhe, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy,  and then the  Palais de la Nation, the  seat of the Presidency, where President Felix Tshisekedi is usually based. After  a few hours, the Republican Guard was able to regain the control of the areas. The spokesperson of the army confirmed that there was a failed military coup by a group of armed men from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and  foreign powers. According to AfroAmerica Network sources close to the DRC Republican Guard,  the Rwandan Army is the first suspect.  

SADC Army in DRC

On May 3, 2024, Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) troops, under the cover of M23 rebels heavily bombed camps of Congolese displaced civilians in Mugunga, North-Kivu Province in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), near the main city of Goma. Tens of displaced people, mostly women and children and elderly were killed.  The bombing, a continuation of human crimes committed by the Rwandan army against the Congolese civilians for decades has been condemned worldwide, including by the United States Government (USA), the European Union (EU), African Union (AU), and South African Development Community (SADC), leading to  calls for International sanctions against the Rwandan army and its leaders.

RPF Tutsi soldiers disguised in Hutu militias and systematically killing both Hutu and Tutsi civilians across Rwanda in 1994

In a statement released on September 14, 2016 by one of the Rwandan main opposition parties, the New Rwandan National Congress, led by former members of the current Rwandan ruling military organisation, Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the party leaders have accused their former comrandes of having planned, executed and covered up the genocide of Hutus, a Rwandan ethnic group, through an international "scandalous conspiracy of silence as a means to deny genocide against the Hutu."

 One of the signatories is Dr Theogene Rudasingwa, the new party chairman. Dr Theogene Rudasingwa was Secretary General of the RPF, the Private Adviser to

Alaa Salah, Kandaka or Nubian Queen, leading protests in Sudan, in April 2019

As 2024 started, African dictators have persisted in holding onto power and grooming their sons and daughters as heirs. In the most recent years, some dictators were deposed or killed. Meanwhile, many African dictators have  remained in power, including some already featured among AfroAmerica Network African ruthless dictators (Africa: African Dictators of 2021; 3 Down, More to Go).  New dictators have been trying to join the ranks.

Rwandan refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on a Visit to Rwanda during the Rome-Kisangani-Kasiki Peace Process in 2008-2009

On March 3, 2024, the  Eglise du Christ au Congo (ECC) issued a statement to the Government of the DR Congo, recommending to organize a national dialogue aimed  at addressing and resolving issues of peace, security and state governance.  Meanwhile, AfroAmerica Network has learned that the DR Government, in accord with the calls from the Eglise du Christ au Congo (ECC) and after constructive discussions with world powers and governments, including the United States of America (USA), The European Union (EU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the United Nations (UN),  has decided to reengage in a process to repatriate or resettle the Rwandan refugees who have been in  the DR Congo for 30 years and their descendants.

KAHUNGA position,  6 km North of the town of  KIWANJA, where the Radar of RDF Forces was located.

On Saturday February 17, 2024, while the African Union was holding a Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the United States Government strongly condemned the worsening violence and war crimes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) committed  by the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) troops under the cover of M23 rebels. The condemnation followed the recent incursions of Rwandan troops  into the city of Sake, a few kilometers from the city of Goma, the capital of North-Kivu province,  the killings of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) peace keeping soldiers in DRC under the SAMIDRC, and the shooting of FARDC aircrafts  and  civilians planes  using drones. With the strong condemnations by the US Government, the questions have shifted to the next steps of actions  against the Rwandan government and military leaders.